John Williams Jr. was born on February 20, 1961, in Augusta, Georgia. 

In 1996, a series of murders occurred in Raleigh, North Carolina. The investigators believed these murders were linked and suspected a serial killer was operating in the area. Six women, primarily involved in prostitution, were murdered from January to December that year.

The first victim was Patricia Ashe, whose body was discovered on January 7, 1996. She had been strangled. Days later, on January 17, police found Dewanna Burt in a parking lot, shot in the head. The year continued with more tragic discoveries. In June, Patricia Woods was found dead in a cemetery, followed by the body of Dawn Grandy in July. In August, an unidentified woman was also found dead, and it wasn’t until January 1997 that she was identified as Cynthia Brown. The final victim, Deborah Elliot, went missing on December 23, 1996, and her body was discovered three days later.

The Raleigh police, working with the FBI, began investigating these murders as they saw similarities among the cases. They assigned 54 detectives to the case and offered a reward for information leading to an arrest. As the investigation progressed, multiple rapes in the area were also linked to the suspect.

A man named John Williams Jr. became a primary suspect after an attempted murder charge in February 1997. During this incident, he attacked a woman named Shelly Jackson. The police arrested him shortly after, and Jackson identified him as her attacker. As they investigated, they found that Williams had a previous conviction for rape.

While in jail, Williams was charged with two of the murders: Patricia Ashe and Deborah Elliot. DNA evidence connected him to the crime scenes. Williams’ trial began in January 1998, where prosecutors sought the death penalty. His defense claimed he was not of sound mind due to his troubled childhood and low IQ. However, the jury found him guilty and sentenced him to death for both murders.

John Williams Jr. remains on death row as of 2023, while the cases of the three other victims remain unsolved.