William Boliek

Background

In August 1983, William T. Boliek lived in Linda Turner’s home. Other residents of the home included Boliek’s lover Jill Harless, Turner’s brother Don Anderson, and Vernon Wait.

The victim, Jody Harless, arrived to visit her sister Jill and stayed at the Turner house.

The offence

One Friday evening, Boliek, Wait, Don Anderson, and Jody Harless robbed the home of an acquaintance, Stan Gray, at gunpoint.

After the robbery, the group feared retaliation from Gray and his friends. Boliek acquired a 12 gauge shotgun, and Wait acquired a .410 sawed off shotgun.

Boliek and Wait discussed the necessity of “getting rid of witnesses” to the robbery.

Learning the police wanted to speak with Gray, Boliek, Wait, and the Harless sisters, the group left Kansas City on the following Monday. Boliek convinced Turner, Jill Harless, Don Anderson, and Wait to drive to Thayer, Missouri to hide out with Boliek’s parents.

On the way, they robbed a liquor store in Nevada.

Later that night, they made a rest stop along Route M in Oregon County. After the car stopped, Jody Harless got out. As she was walking back to the car, Boliek took the 12 gauge shotgun from the car and shot her. She grabbed her stomach but continued to walk toward the car. She then pleaded with Boliek.

Wait grabbed Harless and forced her to the ground, and Boliek shot her again.

Boliek told the victim’s sister that he had fired the second shot into the victim’s mouth and neck so identification of the body would be impossible.

Investigation

A rancher riding his fence line discovered the body of Jody Harless on September 10, 1983, 28 feet from Highway M in Oregon County.

Police investigators discovered two live .410 shotgun shells and two 12 gauge expended shells near the body.

The victim’s decomposed body was unidentifiable by viewing and had to be identified by dental records. She had been killed by a shotgun wound to the head.

Arrest

Boliek was arrested on September 6, 1983, in Decatur, Illinois, for an armed robbery of a gas station committed earlier that day.

When arrested, Boliek had in his possession the shotgun and shotgun shells he had used to kill Jody Harless.

Boliek managed to escape from custody but was recaptured.

Trial

At trial, Boliek claimed that when he fired the first shot he did not know the gun was loaded. He said the second shot was fired by Wait.

The jury found Boliek guilty of capital murder and imposed the death sentence.

Sentencing

Boliek was sentenced to death on December 12, 1984.

Appeals

The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit issued an opinion in the case “State of Missouri vs. William T. Boliek,” cited as 706 S.W.2d 847 (Mo.banc 1986), case number 96-1031.

Outcome

Boliek remained under a death sentence imposed by the jury and sentenced on December 12, 1984.

Other details

A 12 gauge shotgun and shotgun shells used to kill Jody Harless were found in Boliek’s possession when he was arrested for an armed robbery of a gas station in Decatur, Illinois.