The Sugar Baby Cannibal: Thanksgiving Feast or Self Defense?

The year is 1991, and 56-year-old Bill Nelson is ecstatic to celebrate Thanksgiving with his new wife, Omaima, whom he married earlier that year. As Bill called his daughter Margaret to share his excitement and invite her over for dinner, his family had mixed feelings about his whirlwind romance with a woman barely in her early twenties. This article explores the intricate details of the crime and the ensuing investigation into a case that would shock the nation.

Bill Nelson: A Larger-Than-Life Personality

Bill Nelson was known for his grand Texan personality, driving a red Corvette, and wearing fancy red cowboy boots. His friends and family described him as someone who filled up the room with his good energy. However, Bill’s family, especially his daughter Margaret, was skeptical about his new marriage to Omaima, a woman less than half his age.

The Mysterious Wife: Omaima Nelson

Omaima Aree Nelson, a stunning Egyptian immigrant, was born in 1968 in southern Egypt. Her early life was marred by abuse, with her father subjecting her and her mother to physical and sexual violence. At seven, Omaima underwent a traumatic female circumcision, making sexual activity extremely painful. After her mother divorced her father, they moved to Cairo, where they lived in a harsh environment known as the City of the Dead.

At 18, Omaima met an American oil worker and moved to the United States with him. Their marriage didn’t last, leading Omaima to a life of petty crimes, including robbery and theft. She later learned to use her beauty to survive, finding men she could charm and rob. By 1991, she had met Bill Nelson, a man she believed would provide her with stability.

Thanksgiving Weekend: The Last Time Bill Was Seen Alive

Bill planned a grand Thanksgiving feast to celebrate his new life with Omaima. However, after inviting his daughter Margaret for dinner and being turned down, that was the last time anyone heard from him. Days later, on December 1, 1991, police obtained a warrant to search Bill's apartment after finding Omaima driving his car with bags full of what appeared to be human flesh.

The Gruesome Discovery

Inside the apartment, police found a horrific scene. Bill's body was dismembered and scattered throughout the house in hundreds of pieces. His torso was hanging over the bathtub, skinned and bleeding, while other body parts were found in suitcases and wrapped in bags. The kitchen revealed pots and pans with what seemed to be Bill's hands in a stew, alongside vegetables and turkey meat. His head was discovered in the freezer, wrapped in tinfoil and badly burned.

The Investigation

Omaima was arrested and questioned by the police. She claimed that Bill had been sexually abusing her and had tied her up over the weekend. She alleged that she managed to free one arm and attacked him with a lamp and clothing iron in self-defense. However, her story was inconsistent, and the evidence did not support her claims. Doctors found no signs of sexual assault, and the cuts on her body seemed more likely caused by her dismembering Bill’s body.

The Evidence

Medical examiners determined that Bill had died from multiple blows to the head. His wrists and ankles had bruises consistent with being tied up. The scene in the bedroom suggested a violent struggle, but the pattern of injuries did not align with Omaima’s account of being restrained. Instead, it appeared that Bill had been the one tied up and that he had been attacked while immobilized.

Investigators also uncovered a trail of petty crimes and violent incidents in Omaima’s past. Former boyfriends described being tied up and robbed by Omaima, who used her charm and beauty to manipulate and control her victims. One ex-boyfriend, Robert, recounted how Omaima had tied him to a chair and threatened him with a shotgun, demanding money. He never pressed charges due to embarrassment.

The Confession

Omaima’s behavior during questioning was erratic. Initially, she confessed to killing Bill and dismembering his body. Later, she changed her story, claiming that Bill was on a business trip in Florida and that the body parts in her possession belonged to someone Bill had killed. Despite her attempts to mislead the police, the physical evidence and her inconsistent statements led to her being charged with murder.

The Trial

Omaima stood trial in December 1992, charged with second-degree murder. The trial revealed disturbing details, including neighbors hearing the garbage disposal running for two days straight over Thanksgiving weekend. Omaima admitted to cooking Bill’s head and hands, attempting to remove his fingerprints. Her defense relied heavily on her psychiatrist’s testimony about her traumatic past and mental state.

The Psychiatric Evaluation

The psychiatrist disclosed that Omaima claimed she had eaten Bill’s ribs, describing the taste as “sweet.” Despite her denials in court, the jury found her guilty of second-degree murder. She was sentenced to 27 years to life in prison.

Updates on the Case

Parole Hearings

Omaima Nelson has been denied parole twice, in 2006 and 2011. During her parole hearings, she reiterated her claims of abuse and self-defense, stating that she dismembered Bill’s body to prevent him from haunting her in the afterlife. Her pleas were not convincing, and the parole board deemed her a continued threat to society.

Life in Prison

Omaima remains incarcerated at the Central California Women's Facility. In prison, she reportedly married an older, wealthy man who later died, allegedly leaving her a significant amount of money. This relationship echoes her past behavior of using charm and manipulation for financial gain.

Conclusion

The case of Omaima Nelson is a chilling reminder of the darker side of human nature. Whether driven by a desire for wealth, self-defense, or psychological trauma, Omaima’s actions resulted in a gruesome crime that shocked the nation.