ROCKDALE COUNTY, Ga. — More than 16 years after a brutal killing shocked a Georgia community, one of the twin sisters convicted in her mother’s death has walked out of prison on parole.
Tasmiyah Whitehead, now 33, was released from Pulaski State Prison on August 5, according to jail records cited in reports. She had been sentenced to decades behind bars after admitting her role in the killing of her mother alongside her identical twin sister, Jasmiyah.
The sisters became known as the “Twisted Twins” after the January 13, 2010, killing of their mother, Jarmecca “Nikki” Whitehead, inside her Rockdale County home.
The case became especially disturbing because the sisters were teenagers when the killing occurred and initially managed to convince investigators that they had discovered their mother’s body after returning from school.
Twins Admitted to Killing Their Mother
The sisters had only been living with their mother again for about a week when the deadly confrontation occurred.
According to investigators and reports from the time, the twins had previously been considered difficult for their mother to manage because of increasingly violent behavior.
The confrontation began after the girls woke up late for school. Their mother reportedly told them they were late and would have to follow her rules.
The twins later claimed that their mother threatened them with a cooking pot. The argument escalated into a physical fight.
Tasmiyah eventually admitted that she struck her mother in the head with a pot before grabbing a knife from a kitchen knife block. Jasmiyah told investigators that their mother bit her during the struggle, after which Tasmiyah stabbed her.
The sisters continued attacking their mother before dragging her bloodied body into the bathroom and placing her in the bathtub, where they submerged her in water.
Police later alleged that Nikki Whitehead may still have been alive when her daughters moved her body.
‘Bloodiest Scene’ Investigators Had Seen
After the killing, the twins went to school. When they returned home, they contacted police and initially presented themselves as victims who had just discovered their mother’s death.
But investigators quickly encountered a disturbing crime scene. Authorities described it as “the bloodiest scene I think I’ve ever been to.”
The sisters also attempted to conceal injuries they had suffered during the fight. Investigators said they hid bite marks and scratches, including by wearing gloves inside the home or offering explanations that the injuries were self-inflicted.
For months, the sisters maintained their story.
The investigation eventually took a major turn when detectives placed the twins inside a car equipped with a microphone. Investigators reportedly captured the sisters discussing the lack of evidence against them, particularly because police had not located the murder weapon.
The twins were arrested about four months after their mother’s death.
Plea Deal Reduced Murder Charges
The sisters initially pleaded not guilty to murder before accepting plea agreements in 2014.
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Tasmiyah’s murder charge was reduced to voluntary manslaughter. She received 20 years for the manslaughter conviction, along with five years for possession of a knife during a crime and another five years for making false statements to the government.
Although the total sentence was 30 years, Tasmiyah ultimately served about 16 years in custody, including pretrial detention and the years following her conviction.
She had reportedly been eligible for parole since 2017 but remained incarcerated for several additional years before being granted release.
Her release angered her grandmother, Lynda Whitehead, who had previously criticized the sentence and argued that the punishment did not adequately recognize Nikki Whitehead as the victim.
Twin Sister Remains Behind Bars
Tasmiyah’s release does not mean both sisters are free.
Jasmiyah Whitehead remains in prison and is not eligible for parole until May 2028, despite accepting the same plea deal as her sister.
The difference in their release timelines adds another chapter to a case that has remained notable for its unusual circumstances, the twins’ initial deception and the brutal circumstances surrounding their mother’s death.
Before her conviction, Tasmiyah expressed regret over what happened, saying she wished the situation had unfolded differently and that she could have somehow resolved the turmoil surrounding the family.
For now, one of the sisters is beginning life outside prison while the other remains behind bars.
What do you think about Tasmiyah Whitehead’s parole release after serving about 16 years? Share your thoughts in the comments.
