The Unseen Tragedy: 5 Shocking Details About Serena Williams' Sister's Murder And The Killer's Controversial Release

The tragic story of Yetunde Price, the beloved half-sister of tennis legends Venus and Serena Williams, remains one of the most painful and defining moments in the history of the world's most famous tennis family. The drive-by shooting in Compton, California, in 2003, took a life full of promise and left an indelible mark on the Williams sisters, whose global success was built on the foundation of their family bond. As of December 2025, the most recent significant development in this decades-old case revolves around the controversial 2018 parole of the convicted killer, a moment that caused deep emotional distress for Serena Williams and continues to be a point of public discussion.

The murder of Yetunde Price is not just a footnote in the Williams sisters' biography; it is a central tragedy that highlights the family's enduring connection to the rough-and-tumble streets of Compton, a world they had worked tirelessly to transcend. Understanding the full scope of this event requires looking at the life of the victim, the details of the crime, and the lasting emotional impact on the two greatest tennis players of all time.

Yetunde Price: A Life Cut Short and Her Complete Biography

Yetunde Hawanya Tara Price was the eldest of the five daughters of Oracene Price, mother to Venus and Serena Williams. Yetunde was born on August 9, 1972, and was 31 years old when she was tragically killed. She was a pillar of support for her family, embodying the strength and resilience often associated with the Williams-Price lineage.

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• Full Name: Yetunde Hawanya Tara Price
• Born: August 9, 1972
• Died: September 14, 2003 (Age 31)
• Parents: Oracene Price (mother) and Yusef Rasheed (father)
• Siblings: Lyndrea Price, Isha Price (full sisters), Venus Williams, and Serena Williams (half-sisters)
• Career: Yetunde was a successful businesswoman, working as a registered nurse, owning a hair salon, and serving as a personal assistant and coordinator for her famous half-sisters, Venus and Serena Williams.
• Family: She was a devoted mother to three children.

Yetunde’s role extended beyond that of a sister; she was a friend, a confidante, and a crucial member of the Williams’ inner circle. Her death was not only a personal loss but a profound disruption to the entire family structure. Her life was celebrated in the Academy Award-winning film King Richard, which brought her story and the family's early life in Compton to a global audience.

The Tragic Night and the Identity of Robert Edward Maxfield

The murder occurred in the early hours of September 14, 2003, in Compton, California. Yetunde Price was a passenger in an SUV driven by her boyfriend, Rolland Wormley, near the 1100 block of East Greenleaf Boulevard.

They were sitting in the vehicle when they were caught in the crossfire of a gang-related shooting. The shots, fired from an AK-47 assault rifle, were not intended for Yetunde Price. The investigation concluded that the shots were fired by Robert Edward Maxfield, a 25-year-old reputed member of the Southside Crips gang.

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Yetunde was struck by a bullet in the head and was pronounced dead at a local hospital. The crime was a devastating reminder of the random violence that plagued the neighborhood where the Williams sisters had spent their formative years, despite their attempts to provide a safe haven for their family.

The Conviction and Maxfield’s Sentencing

Robert Edward Maxfield was the primary suspect in the case. After a mistrial in 2005, Maxfield ultimately pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter in 2006. He was sentenced to 15 years in state prison. The plea deal allowed him to avoid a murder trial, which carried a potential life sentence. The voluntary manslaughter conviction reflected the belief that the shooting was not premeditated murder against Yetunde Price, but rather a tragic consequence of gang violence.

The Controversial Parole and Serena Williams' Emotional Fallout

The most recent and emotionally charged update in this case came in 2018 when Robert Edward Maxfield was released from prison on parole after serving approximately 15 years of his sentence. His release, which occurred in August 2018, sparked a wave of media attention, not for Maxfield himself, but for the profound effect it had on Serena Williams.

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Serena Williams revealed in a 2018 interview with Time magazine that she learned of Maxfield’s parole in the most devastating way: by scrolling through Instagram just ten minutes before walking onto the court for a match against Johanna Konta at the Silicon Valley Classic.

The news was a gut punch that she credits with causing one of the worst losses of her career—a lopsided 6-1, 6-0 defeat. The emotional weight of the news was too much to bear while competing at the highest level. She later described the experience as incredibly difficult, saying, "I couldn't shake it out of my mind."

This revelation provided a rare glimpse into the private emotional turmoil the tennis star endured while maintaining a public facade of impenetrable strength. It highlighted the deep, unhealed wound left by her sister's death.

The Williams Family's Perspective on Forgiveness and Healing

Following the news of the parole, Serena Williams spoke openly about the struggle to find forgiveness. She acknowledged the difficulty of the process, stating, "It was hard because all I could think about was all the time she's not going to get back with her kids." However, she also expressed a desire to follow the example of her mother, Oracene Price, who has publicly advocated for forgiveness as a path to healing.

Oracene Price has been a powerful voice for peace, stating that she has forgiven Maxfield and urging her daughters to do the same. This perspective aligns with the family’s efforts to establish the Yetunde Price Resource Center in Compton, which provides trauma-informed programs and services to those affected by violence.

The center stands as a living legacy to Yetunde, transforming the tragedy into a source of community healing and support, providing services like mental health resources, education, and job training—all of which are crucial in neighborhoods affected by cyclical violence.

Robert Edward Maxfield: Where Is He Now? (2025 Update)

Since his release on parole in August 2018, Robert Edward Maxfield has largely remained out of the public eye. The conditions of his parole would typically require him to maintain contact with a parole officer, adhere to strict guidelines, and avoid any new criminal activity.

The lack of recent news or public statements regarding Maxfield suggests that he has successfully transitioned back into civilian life without any major parole violations that would warrant media attention. For the Williams family and the public, the primary focus has shifted from the killer's status to the enduring memory of Yetunde Price and the powerful work of the Yetunde Price Resource Center.

The story of Yetunde Price’s murder and the subsequent release of Robert Edward Maxfield is a profound narrative about violence, celebrity, forgiveness, and the enduring strength of a family facing unimaginable grief. It serves as a stark reminder that even the world's greatest champions are not immune to the harsh realities of the world they came from, and that the journey toward healing is a continuous, deeply personal, and often public battle.