A grandmother in Georgia was allegedly killed by a stranger who followed her home and then choked her to death — crushing her neck with his knees and full body weight while she was lying on the ground, according to police and family members, who describe the murder as “horrific” and “mind-blowing.”

Hector David Sagastume Rivas, 21, is accused of murdering 52-year-old Camillia Williams sometime between 11 p.m. on March 12 and 1 a.m. on March 13, according to an arrest warrant obtained by Atlanta ABC affiliate WSB. Police in Cobb County say Sagastume Rivas strangled Williams and then dumped her body on the side of a road in a yard near her home in Marietta, where it was found last Thursday morning in a place that her family says left them shocked.

“When they found her in the bushes, we looked at the bushes real close and it just so happens to be a Camellia bush.” Camillia’s brother, Arsene Williams, told WSB. “It’s hard to believe that this is really truly happening,” he said. “I don’t know how to absorb it right now.”

According to Arsene and Williams’ family, the Louisiana native called a relative the night before her body was found and said she was being followed by a man who they claim was Sagastume Rivas.

“She didn’t know him,” said Tony Williams, another one of Camillia’s brothers. “The night before she was at the dollar store and she told one of my nieces the guy was following her,” Arsene alleged.

Cops say a motive has not been provided by the suspect yet, but he has admitted to allegedly killing Williams. He told investigators the details about using his knees, claiming he did so after trying to take her life with a chokehold, to no avail.

“I just can’t imagine what someone would have in their heart to do that to somebody,” Williams’ niece, Danielle Williams, told local NBC affiliate WXIA. “What he’d done was really horrific,” she said. “It’s mind-blowing.”

Sagastume Rivas was being held Wednesday on charges of felony murder. He’s been denied bond and is awaiting his next court date.

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A 67-year-old grandmother in Hawaii will not be going to jail in connection with the death of her 9-year-old granddaughter, who weighed only 45 pounds when she starved in 2016 while in the woman’s care.

Hilo Circuit Court Judge Henry Nakamoto on Thursday ordered Henrietta Stone to serve a sentence of 10 years of probation over the death of young Shaelynn Lehano-Stone, authorities announced. Nakamoto handed down the sentence over the staunch objection of the Hawaii Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, who sought the maximum sentence of 20 years for Stone.

“There aren’t words to describe my disappointment and frustration in the outcome of this case. Shaelynn and our community deserved much better. Her death was caused by the three people, who she should have been able to trust the most,” Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen said in a statement released after the sentencing hearing. “We will not let this result discourage our ongoing efforts to protect our keiki.”

“Keiki” is a Hawaiian word that means “child.”

Stone in February 2024 pleaded no contest to one count of manslaughter for her role in Shaelynn’s death. She had originally been charged with one count of second-degree murder.

Shaelynn’s parents, Kevin Lehano and Tiffany K. Stone, also previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter and were sentenced to 10 years of probation, records show. Notably, the victim’s grandmother was her legal guardian at the time of her death.

A grandson recently arrested on suspicion of carjacking his 77-year-old grandmother in the driveway outside the Florida home they shared wrote her a tearful apology, authorities said.