Behind Closed Doors: Za'zell Preston’s Final Christmas

This podcast contains graphic content, including descriptions of violence, death, and other distressing topics. Listener discretion is strongly advised.

But then the quiet was shattered by a 911 call, a man's voice, cold and collected, telling the operator that his wife had hurt herself in the middle of the night. When paramedics arrived, they found Gisele Preston lifeless, her body battered and bruised.

The story her husband, William Wallace told seemed simple enough at first, but as investigators dug deeper, what they uncovered painted a chilling picture of what really happened that night, a horror that would leave her family broken and a community demanding answers.

I'm your host, Kimberly Holmes, and you're listening to Owl in Red, a true crime podcast where we bring light into the darkest corners, giving a voice to those who can no longer speak for themselves. Today we unravel the tragic story of Za'Zell Preston, whose life was stolen on a day meant for love and family.

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She was devoted to her two young daughters and held big dreams for the future, dreams that reflected her strength, ambition, and a deep desire to give her children a better life. She was taking college classes with the goal of working as a domestic violence counselor, hoping to create a stable future for her family.

But in the last years of her life, Za'Zell became entangled in a relationship that seemed to drain the very light from her. The people who knew her best watched as she become more withdrawn, more isolated.

Za'Zell's marriage to William Wallace had started, like so many others, with promise of love and a hopeful future. But as time went on, signs of darkness crept into their relationship.

Close friends and family noticed the strain, the sudden bruises, the guarded look in her eyes. They sensed something was wrong, something Za'Zell herself couldn't put into words.

Neighbors later reported hearing loud noises, shouting, and the sounds of objects crashing to the floor. The silence that followed was heavier than words could convey. By Christmas morning, Za'Zell was gone.

William had dragged her lifeless body from their bedroom to the living room couch, where he propped her up, put sunglasses on her face. He told the kids, mommy got drunk and ruined Christmas, then proceeded to have them quietly open their presents.

It wouldn't be until later that morning William would call 911, but his explanation was simple, almost attached. He claimed she had simply hurt herself. But to those who knew Za'Zell, the story felt wrong, incomplete.

And to investigators, the evidence painted a very different picture. When paramedics arrived, Za'Zell was slumped over on the couch, motionless. There was nothing they could do.

She was already gone and had been that way for some time. The medical examiner's report would confirm what no one wanted to believe.

Za'Zell's injuries were extensive and brutal, far beyond what could be explained as an accident.

Her broken nose, severe head trauma, and bruises across her body told a story of a woman who had suffered in silence for too long, a story of control, of power, and a final night of unimaginable violence. As authorities began their investigation, it became clear that Za'Zell's death was not an isolated incident, but a long history of abuse and control.

Friends came forward to share their concerns. Moments when Sizelle had hinted at fear but never fully explained.

They described seeing her with bruises, her voice trembling as she brushed off their questions. She was quick to assure them she was fine, that she could handle it. But in reality, she was trapped in a cycle of abuse she could not escape.

The trial that followed her death was spent both a pursuit of justice and a painful reminder of silence that she had endured. She left behind a seven week old son, two daughters from a previous relationship who were three and eight years old.

During the trial, Za'Zell's oldest daughter said the couple was arguing when William pushed Za'Zell into a glass table.

The daughter said she pulled pieces of glass from her mother's body and that William carries Azel into the bathroom to clean her up, but then dropped her and she hit her head on the side of the toilet as a result. The daughter also added, her mom's body was cold when William picked her up.

William Wallace was charged and later convicted of second degree murder, his story unraveled in the face of evidence that revealed his history of violence and domination. But for Czechel's family, the pain did not end with the conviction.

They were left with a lifetime of memories cut short and agonizing knowledge that perhaps they could have done more to help her. Gazelle's daughters, robbed of their mother's love and warmth, would grow up with only faint memories of her kindness and care.

Today, Za'Zell's story stands as a testament to the silence suffering endured by many victims of domestic violence. Her life, once filled with laughter and hope, was overshadowed by a relationship that stripped her of her freedom and ultimately, her life.

If you or someone you know is suffering in silence, it's time to break the cycle and reach out for help. Thank you so much for listening to this episode.