In 2016, AL.com spoke with Kelly Wilkins, Vallum's mother. She explained that she viewed both the murder itself and Williamson's sexual orientation as sinful. Wilkins misgendered Williamson and asserted, not unlike her son did years later, how she felt about what happened.

"Josh is not gay," she said. "Ask all the girls he has dated over the years. I'm not more focused on either sin. They are both sin."

Williamson was the victim of a brutal hate crime. One can only hope her family gained some sense of closure when her killer was brought to justice.

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