Barbara Williams

DOB: January 30, 1968 (36)

• Detective Dave Wilson-Peoria County Sheriff's Department

    On February 5, 2004, he was dispatched to the 4800 Block of North Valley View Road in Edwards, IL on the report of a female body lying on the side of the road.  He responded to the scene and found the body of Barbara Williams face down in the snow, partially clothed, with her feet still on the roadway. Marks on her clothing and on her arms indicated that she may have been dragged from one place to another.  However, no signs of drag marks at the scene indicated the death took place at a different location and the body of Ms. Williams was dumped at this location.  Ms. Williams was last seen alive the night before, February 4, 2004,  between 9:00 pm - 10:00 pm.

• Dr. Violette Hnilica, M.D.-Forensic Pathologist

    On February 6, 2004, she performed the autopsy of Barbara Williams.  Dr. Hnilica would testify that she found several antemortem injuries including a contusion on the right side of her face by her eye, a contusion and abrasion on her left shoulder, and an abrasion on her left wrist.  She found several postmortem injuries including a dislocated left wrist, abrasions on her left arm, and lacerations and contusions to her left hand.  She further observed scrapes, likely drag marks, on her left arm, both heels, and on her clothing.

    In her medical opinion, Dr. Hnilica would state that Ms. Williams died of cocaine toxicity in that cocaine, its products and metabolites were found in her body at levels determined to be toxic. No signs of asphyxia or strangulation were evident.

• Detective Dave Hoyle-PCSD

• Detective Cy Taylor-TCSD

    On January 26, 2005, the defendant spoke with these detectives concerning the death of Barbara Williams.  Although he did not remember what she looked like he did remember the incident of killing Barbara Williams by the location where he dumped the body.

    The defendant stated that she was the second girl he killed.  He picked her up on the south end of Peoria, Illinois.  He took her back to his house at 3418 W. Starr Ct. in Peoria.  He stated that they were doing crack cocaine which he had provided.  He stated that he found her attempting to steal his money and that he punched her in the throat and she started choking. Then, in the defendant's words, he said he "just lost control.".  After she was dead, he then took her to the North Valley View Road location.  He said he did not know why he dumped her there but that he just wanted to get rid of the body.  He later directed detectives to this location. He stated that after this incident he knew he was going to kill the girls when he picked them up.  The defendant, in his words, said he "was hunting."

Barbara Williams was 36 years old.