Dorothy Williams was born on December 12, 1954, in Illinois, United States. 

Dorothy Williams committed her first murder on December 5, 1987. She strangled 79-year-old Lonnie Laws during a robbery. After this crime, her violent actions continued. In 1988, she attacked 64-year-old Caesar Zurell. Williams stabbed him to death, marking her second murder.

The following year, on July 25, 1989, Williams killed again. This time, she targeted 97-year-old Mary Harris, also strangling her to death. During this period, Williams also robbed five other elderly individuals.

She was eventually apprehended on September 6, 1989. After her arrest, she faced serious charges for her crimes. In total, she was convicted of three counts of first-degree murder and robbery. Initially sentenced to death, her sentence was later changed to life in prison without the chance of parole. Williams remained in custody until she died on December 19, 2020, at the age of 66.