In the quiet town of Douglassville, Texas, a community of barely 230 residents, life typically moves at a slow pace. The kind of place where everyone knows everyone, where children play freely outdoors, and where tragedy feels like something that happens elsewhere. But on a warm summer night in July 2022, this tiny Cass County town became the setting for an unimaginable horror that remains unresolved nearly three years later.
A Summer Night Turns Tragic
It began like many summer evenings. Three sisters—Zi'Ariel Robinson-Oliver (9), A'Miyah Hughes (8), and Te'Mari Robinson-Oliver (5)—were at home while their mother, Shommaonique Oliver-Wickerson, was at work. The girls were being watched by Paris Propps, their mother's 31-year-old cousin who had been living with the family for approximately two years and often helped care for Shommaonique's six children.
What should have been an ordinary evening of childcare turned into something far more sinister when, around 9 PM on Friday, July 29, 2022, Shommaonique received the news no parent should ever hear: her daughters were missing.
As a mother of three myself, I can't begin to imagine the panic that must have gripped Shommaonique in that moment. The frantic calls, the rising dread, the desperate hope that at any moment her daughters would reappear with innocent explanations and sheepish smiles.
The Search Begins
By 9:30 PM, according to witness statements, Paris Propps approached neighbor Josephine Webster as she was arriving home. Using Webster's house phone, Propps called Shommaonique to inform her that the girls "hadn't showed up." A detail that would later raise questions was Webster's observation that Propps appeared "wet" during this interaction—"not sweat," as she specifically noted to investigators, but "like water" that "went all the way down."
Law enforcement was notified, and search efforts quickly mobilized. Texas Parks and Wildlife, Fire Rescue, and local volunteers combed the area surrounding the family home. In a small town like Douglassville, a missing persons situation immediately becomes a community concern. Neighbors who likely watched these girls grow up now found themselves searching desperately for them in the darkness.
Hope dissolved into heartbreak around 3 AM when the Bowie County dive team made a devastating discovery. The bodies of all three sisters were found in a private pond approximately 200 yards from their home.
Initial Reports: An Accidental Drowning
The immediate narrative presented to the public was that of an accidental drowning. It's a tragically common occurrence in rural areas where bodies of water often lack proper fencing or supervision. Lieutenant Game Warden Jason Jones told media at the time, "Officials cannot confirm if the girls frequently play at the pond...or if the children knew how to swim. That is unknown, whether they were swimmers or not."
Near the pond, investigators found a pink and purple bicycle, a single pair of shoes, and muddy footprints. These items painted a picture that seemed to support the accidental drowning theory—perhaps the girls had wandered off to play and tragically ventured into water too deep for their swimming abilities.
For months, this was the story the community and family believed. A horrible accident. A preventable tragedy, perhaps, but not one born of malice.
The Shocking Truth Emerges
An autopsy was performed on August 4, 2022, but it wasn't until more than seven months later that the true nature of what happened to these innocent children came to light. On March 23, 2023, Cass County District Attorney Courtney Shelton released a statement that shattered the accident narrative: "Autopsy reports concluded the manner of death for all 3 girls is homicide, indicating evidence of strangulation. The girls also suffered lacerations to their faces."
This revelation transformed everything. What had been processed as a tragic accident was now confirmed as something far more sinister—a deliberate act of violence against three defenseless children.
The seven-month gap between the girls' deaths and this announcement has been a source of significant frustration for the family. For over half a year, Shommaonique and her relatives grieved what they believed was a terrible accident, only to learn that their children had been victims of violence. The delayed disclosure raised questions about the investigation process and whether crucial time had been lost in pursuing justice.
Investigation Challenges
Small-town law enforcement agencies often face significant challenges when confronted with complex homicide cases. Limited resources, training, and experience with major crimes can impact how effectively investigations are conducted.
Eventually, Cass County officials turned the investigation over to the Texas Rangers, the state's elite investigative law enforcement division. Sergeant Ethan Sartor, public information officer for the Texas Department of Public Safety, emphasized that "This investigation should not be considered a cold case. It's still active and open."
Yet for the family and community, progress seems painfully slow. As of this writing in May 2025, nearly three years after the deaths of Zi'Ariel, A'Miyah, and Te'Mari, no arrests have been made. Public updates have been minimal, leaving a community to wonder if justice will ever come.
The Questions That Linger
Several aspects of this case continue to trouble me as I research and write about it:
- Why was Paris Propps wet when reporting the girls missing? According to neighbor Josephine Webster's statement, he appeared to be soaked with water, not sweat.
- How did three young girls end up in a pond 200 yards from their home? While children certainly wander and explore, the presence of all three in the water raises questions.
- What happened during those crucial hours between when the girls were last seen and when they were reported missing?
- Why did it take seven months for the homicide determination to be released to the public? Were investigators pursuing leads they didn't want to compromise, or were there other factors at play?
- The evidence found at the scene—a bicycle, shoes, footprints—what story do these items tell? Do they suggest the girls went to the pond willingly, or might they have been staged?
A Community Forever Changed
Douglassville is the kind of small town that rarely makes headlines. With just 230 residents, it's a place where generations of families have lived side by side, where community bonds run deep. The murder of these three young sisters has undoubtedly changed the fabric of this close-knit community forever.
Parents who once allowed their children to play freely outdoors now likely keep them closer. Neighbors who never locked their doors might think twice. The innocence that often characterizes small-town life has been tarnished by an act of violence against its most vulnerable members.
Remembering Zi'Ariel, A'Miyah, and Te'Mari
In cases like these, it's too easy for the victims to become secondary to the mystery. But Zi'Ariel Robinson-Oliver (9), A'Miyah Hughes (8), and Te'Mari Robinson-Oliver (5) were not just victims of a tragic crime—they were children with dreams, personalities, favorite toys, and futures ahead of them.
Though I didn't know these girls personally, I can imagine Zi'Ariel at nine years old beginning to discover her independence, perhaps taking pride in helping care for her younger sisters. A'Miyah at eight likely had best friends, favorite subjects in school, and activities she loved. Five-year-old Te'Mari was just starting her educational journey, full of curiosity about the world around her.
These children deserved to grow up, to have first crushes and high school graduations, to pursue dreams and perhaps have families of their own one day. Instead, their lives were cruelly cut short before they truly began.
The Toll on a Mother
For Shommaonique Oliver-Wickerson, the pain of losing three daughters simultaneously is unimaginable. Add to that the prolonged uncertainty about what happened to her children and whether justice will ever be served, and her burden becomes almost incomprehensible.
Like many working parents, Shommaonique relied on family for childcare—in this case, her cousin Paris Propps. The question of whether her trust was betrayed that night must weigh heavily. Whatever transpired while she was at work fundamentally shattered her family, leaving her to raise her remaining three children while simultaneously grieving the daughters she lost and seeking answers about their deaths.
Where Does the Case Stand Today?
As we approach the three-year anniversary of this tragedy, the case remains officially open and under investigation by the Texas Rangers. However, public updates have been minimal, and the lack of arrests despite the determination of homicide has left many frustrated.
Cases involving children naturally evoke strong emotional responses from the public. The desire to see swift justice is understandable, but the reality of homicide investigations is that they can be painstakingly slow. Investigators must build cases that will stand up in court, and this often means being careful about what information is released publicly.
Still, three years is a long time for a family to wait for answers, especially when the autopsy findings were so definitive about the manner of death.
The Need for Answers
Some cases fade from public consciousness as time passes, but for the families involved, there is no moving on without resolution. Shommaonique and her family deserve to know what happened to Zi'Ariel, A'Miyah, and Te'Mari. They deserve to see whoever is responsible held accountable.
As members of the public, we can help keep attention on cases like these. We can share their stories, ask questions of authorities, and ensure that these children are not forgotten. Sometimes public pressure is what keeps cold cases from being shelved permanently.
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