GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A search for a missing Gainesville mother of four turned into a murder investigation and now her boyfriend has been indicted in her killing.
Keyanta Williams, 39, was last seen by her family on Feb. 9. Her relatives said she left to get gas in her car and was planning to come back to pick up one of her children from school, but she never showed up.
On Feb. 11, Williams' boyfriend, 41-year-old Kelvin Bryant, was arrested and charged with grand theft auto after he was found driving her car on a suspended license in Putnam County, more than an hour away.
Bryant (pictured) has been indicted by a grand jury for first-degree murder in Williams' death, grand theft and destruction of evidence.
He is being held in the Alachua County Jail on no bond.
The Alachua County Sheriff's Office spearheaded the search for Williams, which included the help of volunteers in Gainesville.
Deputies built a timeline between the day family members reported Williams missing to the time Bryant was arrested. That investigation led them through four counties.
Deputies said between the time Williams was reported missing and Bryant was arrested, Williams' phone pinged off cellphone towers in four counties -- Volusia, Flagler, Alachua and Putnam. Her phone was not GPS compatible, which means deputies can't get the direct path her car took.
Deputies said Bryant and Williams had been fighting the day she disappeared.
Investigators told News4Jax there was evidence of foul play. Investigators said in a two-day window since Williams was last seen and Bryant was arrested, her cellphone pinged off towers in the four counties.
Keyanta Williams' uncle, Carl Williams, said he is thankful the case is moving forward, but he still wishes Bryant would open up and tell someone where his niece is.
"Whatever he knows, just give us the closure, so we can close this chapter of our lives," said Carl Williams. "It's good to know that this isn't a cold case. They're really doing their job."
Defense attorney Gene Nichols said if this case were to go to trial, the defense undoubtedly will argue on the basis of "No body, no crime," but in the past, convictions have happened.
"If there is enough physical evidence to suggest that something happened, then juries will consider it," said Nichols. "Bill Cervone is not permitted to bring a charge to trial, nor is any prosecutor, unless they have a reasonable probability of conviction."
Over the last several weeks, Carl Williams said his family has tried to heal. He described his niece as a kind, loving mother. He still holds out hope that Bryant will open up and give him the answers he needs.
"If God will just touch his heart, and we just want out of this rat race and so forth," Carl Williams said.
Bryant is due back in court in the next few weeks.