Bio

James Joseph Wilkens Jr. was born on July 29, 1961. He had a difficult upbringing, facing significant challenges during his childhood. Reports indicate that he was abused as a child, which may have affected his mental health as he grew older.

In the summer of 1986, Wilkens began dating Sandra Darlene Williams. Both were working at a restaurant called the Pit Grill. Soon after their relationship started, Wilkens moved in with Sandra and her four-year-old son, Larry Wayne McMillan Jr.

The relationship between Wilkens and Sandra began to deteriorate by October 1986. Wilkens became jealous of the time Sandra spent with her son. His jealousy worsened when Richard Allan Wood, who was Wilkens' former roommate, began to take Sandra to her chiropractor. As their relationship grew, Wilkens' jealousy towards Wood increased.

By December 1986, Sandra and her son had developed a relationship with Richard Wood. They traveled to Oklahoma to spend Christmas with Wood's family. When they returned, Wilkens was waiting for them at their mobile home.

At the time of the events that followed, Wilkens was 25 years old and on parole for a previous robbery conviction. This background set the stage for the serious actions he would take later.

Murder Story

James Joseph Wilkens Jr. committed the murders on December 27, 1986. He had broken into the mobile home of his former girlfriend Sandra Williams, who had returned from a Christmas trip with her new boyfriend, Richard Allan Wood, and her four-year-old son, Larry McMillan Jr.

When Sandra entered her home with her son, she placed him on the couch near the front door. Just then, she discovered Wilkens inside the bathroom with a .22 caliber rifle. In a panic, she ran towards the front door and shouted for help. Wood was outside and rushed in to assist her. As he entered, Wilkens shot him at the door.

While Sandra attempted to flee, Wilkens shot her in the back. She fell outside but managed to see Wilkens turn his rifle toward her son on the couch. Despite her efforts to save him, Wilkens shot Larry numerous times, killing him as well. Meanwhile, Richard Wood succumbed to a single gunshot wound to the head.

At the scene, investigators found multiple spent casings, confirming the severity of the attacks. Sandra Williams survived the assault despite being injured. She later testified about the harrowing events and eventually learned that both her son and Wood had died that night.

Wilkens was arrested the next day and later charged with capital murder. The case went to trial, and Wilkens was convicted and sentenced to death. He maintained that he was not fully aware of his actions and pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, but this defense did not succeed in court.

Wilkens spent years on death row and was executed by lethal injection on July 11, 2001, after various appeals were exhausted.