William Earl Vandiver was born on 26 August 1948 in the United States. Little is known publicly about his early life or upbringing, but by his mid-30s, Vandiver was known to law enforcement as a suspect in a separate Illinois murder case. At the time of the crime, he was married to Mariann Komyatti, the daughter of Paul Komyatti Sr. and Rosemary Komyatti.

William lived in Hammond, Indiana, with his wife and in-laws. His relationship with his father-in-law was tense and hostile. Paul Komyatti Sr. reportedly subjected his family to frequent verbal abuse and had a reputation for becoming violent while intoxicated. He often pressured his daughter Mariann to divorce Vandiver, citing his criminal background and fugitive status. Paul Sr. also repeatedly threatened to report Vandiver to the authorities in Illinois.

On the night of 19 March and into the early morning of 20 March 1983, the conspiracy reached its fatal conclusion. Vandiver and his brother-in-law Paul Jr. entered Paul Komyatti Sr.’s bedroom while he was asleep. Vandiver stabbed the man 34 times with a fish fillet knife and then struck him on the head multiple times with a firearm. The wounds were brutal, and according to Vandiver’s later confession, Komyatti was still breathing when the group began to dismember him.

Together, the four conspirators including William, Mariann, Rosemary, and Paul Jr. cut off Komyatti’s head, arms, and legs with a hacksaw. His body parts were placed into six garbage bags and dumped near the shoreline of Lake Michigan. The murder was gruesome, and the dismemberment shocking even to hardened investigators.

For nearly a month, the group covered up the murder. Rosemary, Paul Sr.’s wife, told friends he had gone ice fishing in Canada. On 15 April 1983, she filed a missing person report. The case took a turn in May when police received a tip that led them to Komyatti’s dismembered remains on 14 May 1983.

The following day, Mariann was arrested. Vandiver was arrested soon after, having been listed as a fugitive. Paul Jr. was arrested on 21 May, and Rosemary was charged a month later on 20 June.

Each member of the family was charged in connection with the murder, but only William Vandiver faced the death penalty.

Vandiver’s co-conspirators were tried and convicted before him. Mariann accepted a plea deal for a reduced charge of aiding a criminal and received an eight-year sentence. Rosemary was sentenced to 100 years in prison for murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Paul Jr. received a 55-year sentence for the same charges.

Vandiver’s trial began on 12 December 1983. He attempted to shift the blame, claiming that Paul Jr. was the one who committed the murder and that he merely helped dispose of the body. The jury found this defense unconvincing.

On 19 December 1983, Vandiver was found guilty of murder. Two days later, the jury unanimously recommended the death penalty. On 20 January 1984, Judge James E. Letsinger formally sentenced 35-year-old William Vandiver to death. The judge emphasized the importance of deterring such acts of violence and declared the sentence a matter of societal conscience, not vengeance.

William Vandiver waived all appeals and volunteered to be executed. The Indiana Supreme Court reviewed his competency and granted his request to proceed without further legal delays. On 29 July 1985, the court affirmed his conviction and cleared the path for his execution.

Vandiver’s execution was scheduled for 16 October 1985. In the days before his death, he expressed a desire to be cremated and requested a final visit with his wife Mariann, who was then incarcerated. He was granted the visit and shared a final meal of pizza with her. Vandiver also met with his spiritual adviser and expressed his desire for peace.

At 12:03 AM, the first jolt of electricity was applied at the Indiana State Prison. Vandiver was reportedly brain dead but still breathing. The current had to be applied three more times before he was officially pronounced dead 17 minutes later. The botched execution drew criticism from observers, including Vandiver’s attorney Herbert Shaps.