William Devonshire was born on September 23, 1969, in Wilmington, Delaware. Not much is known about his early childhood or family life. However, he began getting into trouble with the law at a young age, starting at just 14 years old. 

Throughout his teenage years and into adulthood, Devonshire committed various crimes in different states, including Delaware, Maryland, Indiana, Ohio, and New Jersey. His criminal record included offenses like assault, aggravated assault, disorderly conduct, battery, burglary, and trespassing.

These early brushes with the law marked the beginning of a troubled life that would eventually lead to more serious and violent crimes.

In 2003, Devonshire was living in Magnolia on the same street as 51-year-old Albert C. Harris Sr. On April 6, Harris was found beaten to death in his mobile home on Irish Hill Road. The local community was shocked and believed the killer knew Harris.

A few months later, Devonshire was in prison on unrelated charges. DNA evidence found at his home connected him to Harris' murder. He was charged with first-degree murder and possession of a weapon during a felony.

Despite delays, Devonshire was tried and convicted of first-degree murder. For unknown reasons, his charge was reduced to second-degree murder, and he was released on parole in 2013. He moved to Florida but continued his criminal activities. By the time of his arrest, he was homeless in Sarasota.

On February 25, 2022, 48-year-old Kelliann Ripley's body was found near the Centennial Park boat ramp. An autopsy showed she died from blunt force trauma and strangulation. Police withheld details initially but later released information with her family's permission.

On March 10, 59-year-old Vicky Levitch's body was discovered near the northern Tamiami Trail. She was also beaten and strangled, leading police to suspect the same killer. Levitch's identity was kept secret until a suspect was found.

The day after Levitch's murder, Devonshire was arrested for trespassing and drug possession. In jail, his DNA linked him to Ripley's murder. On March 28, the Sarasota Police charged him with Ripley's murder and named him a suspect in Levitch's case.

While in jail, Devonshire refused his epilepsy medication, had a seizure, and suffered a head injury. After a successful operation, he was placed in the medical wing but died from his injuries on June 5. All charges against him were dropped. After his death, authorities continued testing to confirm if he killed both women. By October 2022, his DNA was definitively linked to Ripley and Levitch, proving he was their murderer.