Michael Wayne Williams

Case overview

Michael Wayne Williams was sentenced to death in 1994 for the slaying of Morris Keller Jr. and Mary Elizabeth Keller, a Cumberland County, Virginia couple who were robbed and shot to death and whose house was set on fire on Feb. 27, 1993. Williams was scheduled to die by injection at 9 p.m. at the Greensville Correctional Center, and the U.S. Supreme Court granted a stay less than an hour before he was scheduled for execution. In a final appeal, the U.S. Supreme Court addressed a second issue raised by the appeal, relating to whether Williams was denied a federal evidence hearing on claims that the state suppressed facts and denied discovery requests and investigative resources during state court proceedings.

Timeline

• Feb. 27, 1993 — Morris Keller Jr. and Mary Elizabeth Keller were robbed and shot to death, and their house was set on fire.
• December 1992 — Williams killed 4 men in Prince George County.
• January 1994 — Williams was tried.
• 1994 — Williams was sentenced to death for the Kellers’ slayings.
• 9:30 to 10:30 p.m. — Cruse and Williams planned to rob customers in a market in Cumberland County, but the store was closed when they arrived.
• 9 p.m. (execution scheduled) — Williams was scheduled to die by injection at the Greensville Correctional Center; the U.S. Supreme Court granted a stay less than an hour before the scheduled execution.

The offence

After the slaying of Morris Keller Jr. and Mary Elizabeth Keller, Williams and an accomplice fled to Fredericksburg in the Kellers’ stolen Jeep. Cruse and Williams planned to rob customers in a market in Cumberland County between 9:30 and 10:30 p.m. with Williams’ .357 caliber revolver, but the store was closed when they arrived. They decided to rob the nearby home of the Kellers.

Victims

Morris Keller Jr., 45, operated Gibralter Wood Co. Mary Elizabeth Keller, 35, worked for an insurance company.

Entry, robbery, and restraint

Cruse knocked on the door and the 2 men entered the Kellers’ home. Williams, holding the gun, ordered the Kellers to take off all their clothes. Williams stayed in the kitchen with them while Cruse searched the house for valuables. Cruse found a .38 caliber handgun. The Kellers were tied up and placed in closets. After some of the Kellers’ property was assembled in the living room, first Williams and then Cruse raped Mrs. Keller.

Abduction and shooting

Williams told the Kellers they were all going “to take a walk.” Hearing that they planned to burn the house, Mrs. Keller took her marriage certificate with her as they were marched to a thicket in a wooded area near the house. Williams shot Mr. Keller and Cruse shot Mrs. Keller.

The account included the following quoted statement and actions:

"After Mrs. Keller fell, Mr. Keller stood up and Williams shot him again... As Cruse started to walk away, Williams said, 'Wait... (w)hat if they ain't dead?' and he shot each of the Kellers 'a couple more times apiece' with the .38 caliber handgun."

After the shootings

The 2 gunmen loaded stolen property into the Kellers’ Jeep, set fire to the house, and then drove to Fredericksburg where they sold some of the property. They threw the remaining property and the .357 caliber handgun into the Rappahannock River and then set fire to the Jeep.

Investigation and accomplice testimony

Both men testified at Williams’ trial. Each admitted to firing one shot but blamed the rest of the 7 shots on the other. The accomplice, Jeffrey Alan Cruse, was 25 at the time and testified against Williams, receiving a life sentence.

Williams and an accomplice fled to Fredericksburg in the Kellers’ stolen Jeep after the slaying.

Trial

Williams was tried in January 1994. The jury heard evidence that Williams had killed 4 men in Prince George County in December 1992 in addition to the Keller murders.

Charges and conviction

Williams was convicted of capital murder in the Kellers’ deaths, along with burglary, rape, arson, 2 counts of robbery, and 2 counts of abduction.

Sentencing for the Kellers

Williams, now 31, was sentenced to death for the slayings and was scheduled to die by injection at 9 p.m. at the Greensville Correctional Center.

Other proceedings: Prince George County slayings

Williams later pleaded guilty to 1 count of capital murder and 3 counts of 1st-degree murder for the Prince George slayings and was sentenced to life in prison for each slaying.

Appeals

Supreme Court issues and stay

The U.S. Supreme Court granted a stay less than an hour before Williams was scheduled for execution. In a final appeal, attorneys for Williams argued that Williams’ constitutional rights were violated when the prosecutor used the fact that he had heard other witnesses’ testimony to impeach his testimony. However, the appeal was granted based on a second issue raised by the appeal—that Williams was denied a federal evidence hearing on claims the state suppressed facts and denied discovery requests and investigative resources during state court proceedings.

The appeal outcome included discussion of a federal law affecting evidentiary hearings: Barbara Hartung, one of Williams’ attorneys, said:

"It will affect a lot of people,'' she said.

Statements by spokesperson for the Attorney General

David Botkins, a spokesman for Attorney General Mark Earley, said:

"It's unfortunate at this particular juncture that the victims' family members have to relive the horror of the last few years,'' Botkins said.

He said the state would argue vigorously to uphold the death sentence.

Clemency

Williams did not seek clemency from Gov. Jim Gilmore. Ms. Hartung declined to say why.

People

• Michael Wayne Williams — defendant; sentenced to death in 1994; convicted of capital murder in the Kellers’ deaths, burglary, rape, arson, 2 counts of robbery, and 2 counts of abduction; later pleaded guilty in the Prince George slayings and received life sentences for each slaying.
• Morris Keller Jr. — victim; 45; operated Gibralter Wood Co.; shot and killed.
• Mary Elizabeth Keller — victim; 35; worked for an insurance company; raped and shot and killed.
• Jeffrey Alan Cruse — accomplice; 25 at the time; testified against Williams; received a life sentence; found a .38 caliber handgun and shot Mrs. Keller.
• Barbara Hartung — one of Williams’ attorneys; made quoted statement about review of a portion of a 1996 federal law.
• David Botkins — spokesman for Attorney General Mark Earley; made quoted statements about victims’ family members and the state’s position.
• Mark Earley — Attorney General.
• Jim Gilmore — Gov.; Williams did not seek clemency from him.
• John Taylor — Warden in the case caption.
• Supreme Court of the United States — granted a stay less than an hour before the scheduled execution and granted the appeal based on a second issue raised.

Other details

Cruse and Williams planned to rob customers in a market in Cumberland County between 9:30 and 10:30 p.m., but the store was closed when they arrived. Cruse found a .38 caliber handgun, and Williams had a .357 caliber revolver. They sold some of the property in Fredericksburg, threw remaining property and the .357 caliber handgun into the Rappahannock River, and then set fire to the Jeep. Mrs. Keller took her marriage certificate with her when they were marched to the thicket in the wooded area near the house. Several relatives of Williams’ victims had gone to Jarratt to witness the execution.