Connie Williams
Murderer
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- Gender
- male
- Country
- USA
- Location
- Pennsylvania, USA
- Date of birth
- February 14, 1951
- Age at first offence
- 23
- Characteristics
- parricide, dismemberment
- Victim profile
- H is landlord / H is wife Frances Williams, 53
- Method of murder
- ??? / St abbing with knife
- Date(s) of murder
- 1974 / 1999
- Years active
- 1974–1999
- Date of arrest
- January 14, 2000
- Status
-
Released
Sentenced to death on March 2, 2002; sentenced to 7 to 21 years in prison in 1974 and paroled in 1981
Background
Connie Williams murdered and dismembered his wife, Francesca. The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania opinion 381 CAP concerned Williams being sentenced to death.
The offence
Connie Williams stabbed his wife, Frances Williams, 53, with a knife while he was cooking steak and home fries in August 1999. After the murder, he sawed off her head, hands and feet and stuffed them in a freezer before dumping them elsewhere. Williams was convicted of first-degree murder and abuse of a corpse.
Investigation
After the murder, Williams reported his wife missing. After police found traces of Frances's blood in the home, Williams confessed.
Trial
The jury deliberated about 5 hours on the guilt phase and another 5 hours on the punishment phase. The jury decided that Williams should be executed. Family members of the victim were satisfied with the jury's decision and relieved, according to a prosecutor.
Evidence was presented at trial regarding Williams's low IQ. The jury heard evidence that Williams had tested as low as 59 on IQ tests. One juror said it did not overcome the aggravating factor of the prior murder conviction.
Williams claimed that he killed his wife in a fit of passion after they had argued about money and her threats of divorce. Williams also claimed he never realized what he had done until he found his wife's remains in the freezer.
Sentencing
Williams was sentenced to 7 to 21 years in prison in 1974 and paroled in 1981. Williams was sentenced to death on March 2, 2002.
Appeals
Williams had a strong case for appeal because the Supreme Court had refused to allow the execution of mentally retarded killers. The Supreme Court has refused to allow the execution of mentally retarded killers.
Other details
Williams had a previous murder conviction for killing his landlord in the 70s. He had served 7 years for second degree murder. Williams's wife was identified as Francesca and as Frances Williams, 53.
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