A Georgia woman convicted in the 2010 killing of her mother when she was a teenager has been released on parole after spending more than 16 years in custody. Tasmiyah Whitehead, who was 16 when her mother, Jarmecca “Nikki” Whitehead, died during a violent confrontation, was released from prison on August 5, 2026. Her identical twin sister, Jasmiyah Whitehead, remains incarcerated.
Tasmiyah Whitehead Released After More Than 16 Years in Custody
According to Georgia Department of Corrections records, Tasmiyah Whitehead is now on parole. Her release follows a sentence connected to the death of her mother at the family’s home in Conyers, Georgia, on January 13, 2010.
The sisters were teenagers at the time of the incident. Prosecutors said the confrontation began after the twins woke up late for school and became involved in an argument with their mother.
The dispute escalated into a physical struggle. Nikki Whitehead suffered multiple stab wounds and was later found in a bathtub inside the home.
Twin Sisters Accepted Plea Deals in 2014
Tasmiyah and Jasmiyah initially faced murder charges following an investigation into their mother’s death. Both eventually entered guilty pleas to voluntary manslaughter and additional charges.
Tasmiyah pleaded guilty in January 2014 to voluntary manslaughter, making false statements and possessing a knife during a crime. Jasmiyah entered the same plea agreement the following month.
Each sister received a total sentence of 30 years. The sentence included 20 years for voluntary manslaughter and five years each for the other two offenses.
Tasmiyah became eligible for parole in 2017 but remained in custody for several more years before her eventual release.
Jasmiyah Whitehead Remains in Prison
While Tasmiyah has now returned to the community under parole supervision, her twin sister remains incarcerated at a minimum-security transitional facility in Georgia.
Jasmiyah is scheduled for parole consideration in 2028, according to corrections and parole records.
The sisters’ grandmother, Lynda Whitehead, previously expressed anger over the sentence during the 2014 proceedings. She questioned whether the punishment adequately reflected the severity of her daughter’s death.
The case continues to draw attention because of the sisters’ young age at the time of the crime, the circumstances surrounding their mother’s death and the different stages of their release from custody.
