Tasmiyah Whitehead, 33, has been released from Pulaski State Prison after serving 12 years of a 30-year sentence for her role in the 2010 killing of her mother, Nikki Whitehead. Whitehead and her twin sister, Jasmiyah, were 16 at the time of the attack and became known as the 'twisted twins.' They were arrested four months after the murder.
In 2014, the sisters accepted a plea agreement, pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter. Tasmiyah received a 20-year sentence for the manslaughter charge, with an additional five years for possession of a knife during a crime and another five years for providing false statements to authorities. She had served four years in pre-trial detention before her conviction. Whitehead was granted parole and released on August 5. Her sister, Jasmiyah, who took the same plea deal, is not eligible for parole until May 2028.
The 2010 Incident
On January 13, 2010, Tasmiyah and Jasmiyah Whitehead reportedly got into an argument with their mother after waking up late for school. According to reports, their mother told them they had to adhere to her rules. The sisters claimed their mother threatened them with a cooking pot, leading to an altercation. Police stated that Nikki Whitehead was severely beaten, and the sisters then stabbed her an estimated 50 to 80 times. Tasmiyah told investigators she grabbed a knife after her sister was bitten during the struggle. The sisters then allegedly dragged their mother's body to the bathroom and placed it in the bathtub. Authorities reported that Nikki Whitehead was still alive at that time.
The sisters left for school after the incident and called 911 upon returning home. Initial investigations suggested the girls were at school during the murder. During the four-month investigation, detectives used a hidden microphone to record the sisters discussing a perceived lack of evidence and questioning why the murder weapon had not been found, which led to their arrest.
Sentencing and Release
At her sentencing, Tasmiyah Whitehead expressed remorse, stating, 'Just really wish it didn’t happen like that and I wish I could have solved something. I do I wish… Sorry… It was just confusion and turmoil and it never stopped.'
Following Tasmiyah's release, she posted on Facebook, thanking those who supported her. She wrote, 'My past explains where I came from. It doesn’t determine where I’m going. You know what you were told and I’m fine with that because I’m secure through the most high. Thankful for the many who’s been along my side through this journey. Beautiful things are to come.'
Nikki Whitehead's mother, Lynda, had previously criticized prosecutors after the plea deal, expressing that the authorities did not seem to care about her daughter's life.