WILLIAM BROTHERS CASES 1999 SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA Faye Springer Sacramento County District Attorney’s Forensic Services Laboratory
SYNAGOGUE ARSONS June 18, 1999 • B’Nai Israel • Beth Shalom • Kenesset Israel
Synagogue film clip
Other Evidence • Newspaper in crate left at one of the synagogues that was from Redding • Fliers left at two of the synagogues blame the Jews for the bombings in Yugoslavia by NATO forces (eventually traced to Kinkos in Redding) • Palm print on one flier (eventually linked to Benjamin Williams)
POTENTIAL EVIDENCE FROM OIL JUGS • TRACE • FINGERPRINTS • ACCELERANT • CONTAINER
ORDER OF PROCESSING • REMOVAL OF SOME OF THE REMAINING LIQUID • TRACE EVIDENCE REMOVAL • FINGERPRINTS – (NEGATIVE FINDINGS)
TYPES OF TRACE EVIDENCE ON JUGS • RAG • ANIMAL HAIRS • FEATHERS • PAINT CHIPS • FIBERS
DOUBLE HOMICIDE - REDDING • July 1, 1999 • Gay Partners • Killed while asleep in their own home • Rural area near Redding • Vehicle and credit cards missing
DOUBLE HOMICIDE MOVIE CLIP
COUNTRY CLUB MEDICAL CLINIC • Arson – July 2, 1999 • Clinic reportedly performed abortions • Arson occured approximately two weeks after synagogue arson
MEDICAL CLINIC MOVIE CLIP
SIGNIFICANT EVIDENCE AFTER MEDICAL CLINIC ARSON • Mawder and Matson’s vehicle recovered in the Oroville area • Williams brothers arrested for murder in early July trying to retrieve items ordered with victm’s credit card in Yuba City, approximately half way between Sacramento and Redding
ITEMS REMOVED FROM SUSPECT VEHICLE IN REDDING BY ATF • BLACK PRY BAR • BLACK WRECKING BAR
BLACK WRECKING BAR
BLACK PRY BAR
OBSERVED ON THE BLACK WRECKING AND PRY BAR • BLACK WRECKING BAR – Glass • BLACK PRY BAR – Green Paint – Glass
INTIAL EXAMINATIONS BLACK PRY BAR • Green Paint on bar consistent with green painted trim on front door – Butano Dr. • Glass on bar similar to broken glass at the Medical Office • Paint transfer on broken glass in door at the Medical Office similar to black pry bar
INITIAL EXAMINATION OF BLACK WRECKING BAR • Glass similar to broken glass at the Medical Office and • Black paint transfer on Sanctuary door window at B’Nai Israel consistent with black paint from wrecking bar
SEARCH WARRANT WILLIAMS RESIDENCE PALO CEDRO • January 2000 • Assisted in collection of trace evidence reference materials • FBI and ATF
ADDITIONAL EXAMINATIONS LINKING OIL JUGS AT B’NAI ISRAEL TO WILLIAMS RESIDENCE • Oil Jug Comparisons • Dog hair similar to dogs “Jessie” and “Caleb” • Feathers consistent with fowl in coop • Paint chip similar to paint from coop
MISCELLANEOUS COMPARISONS • Numerous glass fragment from a blue coveralls from suspect’s residence similar to broken glass at Medical Office • Fiber transfers between coveralls and seat fabric in homicide victim’s stolen car • Glass in homicide victim’s stolen car similar to broken glass at Butano
IN SUMMARY Trace evidence examination showed an association between • the suspect’s pry and wrecking bar and the crime scene at B’Nai Israel and the Medical Offices • the oil jugs left at B’Nai Israel and the Williams residence • the homicide victim’s vehicle from Redding and Medical Office scene as well as a pair of coveralls from the Williams brothers.
INTERVIEW MOVIE CLIP
Other • Williams brothers had a large cache of arms and ammunition • Had a list of prominent members of various synagogues and other politically important individuals. This was likely a hit list. • May have had some connections to the World Church of the Creator and other white supremacist groups but was never proven.
COURT PROCEEDING • 1 st trial was to be held in Federal Court in Sacramento • Defense Attorneys requested a Daubert hearing on the hair evidence, glass evidence, paint evidence, and fiber evidence • Declarations were written by myself, Jose Almirall, Hal Deadman, and Scott Ryland • Request for the hearing was denied
COURT PROCEEDING • Two brothers pled guilty to the Arsons crimes in Sacramento in 2001 • Moved to Redding for the Homicide- Special Circumstance Trial • Benjamin Williams committed suicide before trail in 2002 • Tyler Williams pled guilty and is servicing a Life Sentence
QUESTIONS
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