Written by Staff Writer, CNN
Kaleemah Powell was born in 1990 to slain Clemson University student Candice Hawkins Gilbreath and Eugene Hawkins, a convicted child sex offender. Less than six years after she was born, the elder Hawkins had been murdered, leaving Candice’s young daughter to care for herself and her siblings.
The ordeal was harrowing, as Kaleemah, who died of cancer in 2015, could remember little of her past. But in a special episode of “For the Love of Justice,” a public investigation launched by CNN’s Don Lemon , Lemon uncovered new insights into her childhood.
Interviewed over the phone, Kaleemah, whose name is now spelled Kwasi Collins, opened up about the years she spent learning to become a woman after being rescued from the horrible home she had been raised in.
No stranger to violence
Hawkins was convicted of sexual battery against Gilbreath in 1998 but was later freed. Three years later he sexually assaulted and murdered Gilbreath’s new love, Laurice Hawkins-Jackson.
In 2003, Kaleemah was seized by authorities while running away from home.
During an investigation into Hawkins’ murder, Kaleemah’s mother was not notified, with the case being investigated solely by Child Protective Services.
“In a lot of ways there was some collusion,” Kaleemah told Lemon, “some collusion between myself and CPS, that my mom wasn’t being notified of what was going on. And some retaliation, and all of those things.”
Collins said she didn’t care how long it took to find her biological father, she needed him.
“I want him to be reunited with me. I want him to love me, I want him to be as close to me as he can get,” Kaleemah said.
2,500 people have signed a petition to have Kaleemah’s father, and Hawkins’ original killer, released from prison.
1 / 10 Kaleemah Powell was raised as a girl by murdered Clemson University student Candice Hawkins Gilbreath. Credit: U.S. Army/Corporal Elaine L. Peebles
A road to self-identity
Her early experiences created a perception that Kaleemah was a “girl child,” who was placed in a girl’s home. But she wasn’t.
When Lemon sat down with Kaleemah in one of their first interviews, Kaleemah took hold of the microphone, sharing her reaction to Lemon’s proposition that she could identify her biological father.
“I don’t remember dad, it just kind of reminded me that I was a girl,” Kaleemah said, “but it was kind of just straight to being a boy. And he just grew on me.”
The response took Kaleemah by surprise, and was probably the most emotional moment of the interview.
“It took a really long time for me to even think that I should be thinking about that,” Kaleemah said, “because I just never knew that he existed.”
She tried a few things: entering her birth name, Colin, when joining Facebook and in class for honors studies, but Hawkins was never mentioned.
In the end, Kaleemah chose to go by Collins.
Working through the trauma
After nine months in foster care, Kaleemah’s mother became pregnant and had Kaleemah again. She gave birth to the couple’s second child in 1997, and again Collins emerged.
Collins saw Kaleemah’s birth birth certificate in the hospital, and agreed to give her father all the necessary paperwork. He could be released from prison if Collins ever received the paperwork, as well as permission to adopt her.
Yet the lack of a legal relationship couldn’t wipe out the memories of her father, Kaleemah said.
“The emotions and the messages that he put into me were like – put yourself in my spot and these are things you’re doing and you know I’m your mom.”
“It was very easy to let go and give in to people saying I was abandoned. I allowed people to say that. I just let go of my humanity.”
Kaleemah’s adoptive parents eventually moved to the safety of Atlanta, leaving Collins to take care of her.
Along with lingering pain, Kaleemah also acquired health problems stemming from her young years of abuse, including three miscarriages.
Lemon hopes that Collins will now receive the recognition he deserves.
