Serena Williams Speaks on the Decades-Old Murder of Her Sister in New Docuseries

March 27, 2025 1

Over two decades ago, tennis stars Serena and Venus Williams lost their older sister, Yetunde Price, to an act of gang violence. In a documentary released last July, In the Arena: Serena Williams, Serena thanked an unexpected injury for bringing her closer to her sister in the final months of her life. “We got so close in those last six months. It was a miracle that I broke my muscle…. We were able to spend so much time together, and it was that I’ll never forget,” Serena said in the show.

Robert Edward Maxfield, who was convicted for the killing in 2006, was released in August 2018 after spending almost 15 years behind bars. He served nearly three years in jail while awaiting sentencing and another 12 years following the conviction for voluntary manslaughter.

The incident occurred back in September 2003 when Maxfield allegedly fired at Price’s SUV with an assault weapon as her boyfriend, Rolland Wormley, drove near a suspected drug house. Prosecutors argued that Maxfield, a Crip, was retaliating against who he thought was another gang member.Price was 31 when she was killed. She was one of the Williams’ three other sisters, a half-sibling from a previous relationship between their mother, Oracene Price, and Yusef Rasheed. She was a mother of three and worked as a nurse as well as owned her own hair salon.

The Williams sisters have not commented on Maxfield’s release. But back in 2006, Serena did face him in court, where she told him “that this was unfair to our family, and our family has always been positive and we always try to help people.”

Editor’s note: This post was originally published in August 2018 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.