Kenneth Dewayne Williams (February 23, 1979 – April 27, 2017)[1] was an American serial killer who killed four people in Arkansas and Missouri.
Originally sentenced to life without parole in Arkansas for killing a cheerleader in 1998, Williams escaped from prison in a 500-gallon barrel of pig slop in 1999.
"I grew bitter and angry; I was guilt-ridden, too ashamed to speak out, and so I suffered in silence and in loneliness, out of which came forth a vengeance and a vow: never again to be a victimized prey—to be the one on the offense, not the defense; to be the predator, not the prey.
Williams stopped in his pre-teen years, saying "I reached the conclusion that being the offender doesn't give you any more advantage than being a victim.
[6] Williams pulled out a revolver and ordered the couple into their car, before robbing them of their money, jewelry, and credit cards.
Williams then replied "I don't like the niggers from Dallas anyway," and started shooting the couple, emptying his revolver before driving off.
Hurd died from a gunshot wound to the head, while Robertson survived, got picked up by a passing car, and went home to call the police.
After learning that he had been spared execution, Williams taunted Hurd's family, saying "You thought I was going to die, didn't you?
On October 3, 1999, less than a month after he was sentenced to life in prison, Williams escaped by going into the kitchen and hiding inside a 500-gallon barrel of pig slop that was taken out by a truck.
On August 29, 2000, Williams was convicted of theft of property and capital murder, with the underlying felonies of aggravated robbery and first degree escape.
[1] In May 2005, Williams wrote a letter to the Pine Bluff Commercial, apologizing for his crimes and saying he had found God.
In December 2005, Williams pleaded guilty to capital murder, aggravated robbery, and theft of property for killing Jenkins and received another life sentence.
[11] Williams said finding God got him to confess, writing "I take full responsibility for my actions and whatever consequences my peers see fit.
"[12] However, Williams then blamed himself for being on death row in the first place, saying "Then I thought: Wasn't it my disregard for human life that got me in this situation to begin with?
[14] Kenneth Williams' last meal consisted of two pieces of fried chicken with a side of sweet rice, BBQ pinto beans, a slice of bread, a peanut butter cookie, and a cinnamon roll.
[15] Williams read his last words from a written statement held by a prison official: "I humbly extend my sincerest of apologies to the families I senselessly wronged and deprived of their loved ones.
"[15] The execution drew attention after Kayla Greenwood, the daughter of Michael Greenwood, bought plane tickets for Williams' daughter, Jasmine Johnson, who he had not seen in 17 years, and his 3-year-old granddaughter, who he had never met, so they could fly from Washington State to Arkansas to meet with him for the last time.
Boren's wife, daughter and their family told a newspaper that they waited for justice to be finally served with Williams's execution.
[17][18] In response to the queries surrounding the execution of Williams and the three others before him, Hutchinson stated that he "absolutely made the right decision" to ensure the law run its course and fulfill the ends of justice.