This has got to be the most bizarre serial killer story I’ve ever heard. Williams is not just moderately successful, he’s VERY successful - commanding a base is a big damned deal. And, I would have presumed, a way-more-than-full-time job. He was a respected member of the community, his wife works for a big charity, the works. And yet (allegedly, I know) the guy’s an out-and-out serial killer, the sort of person who is usually a hopeless loser like Richard Speck or the BTK Killer. Instead, Mr. Successful might well be Mr. Psycho Sex Killer. It’s like something out of “Dexter.”
This one will have people riveted for a long time.
This is scary, and that really is a valid question – When did he find the time?
Do you know if the b&e and sexual assault charges relate to other cases? If so, I’d be curious to know how far back they go. It’s hard to believe this guy went from assault to two murders in such a short span of time.
ETA I see they’re form unrelated cases from September 2009.
Ugh, what an awful story. The most recent report I’ve heard said that they’re now looking looking to see if he has any connection to the 2001 murder of a woman named Kathleen MacVicar on a military base housing project, and probably any other unsolved murder that may have happened anywhere this guy may have been over the past 20 or 30 years. Unbelievable.
Her murder happened on the same base that until recently, he commanded. No idea if he was in the area at the time though.
This really is almost unbelievable for all the reasons mentioned above. Serial killers like this sure as hell don’t come along every day, let alone in your back yard :eek:
Yes, I’ve been following the story too. When I first read it, I was speachless with shock and surprise. I suspect most Canadians feel the same way.
When I think of “serial killer” I instinctively think of low-lifes like that Picton fellow out in BC. Obviously, those instincts are wrong - assuming, as looks likely based on the still sketchy media stories, that he’s guilty (I heard he led investigators to a body).
Truly, the last person one would suspect. If it was a movie, I’d not believe it.
From what I’ve read, he seems to have been a true “Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde” character - reputable, admirable career soldier and leader by day - rapist and murderer in in off hours.
It’s truly fascinating, isn’t it? My condolences to the families involved, and to Williams’ wife, but this is just unreal.
I know through family the intelligence and dedication it takes to attain such a high-ranking position in Canada’s military; promotions to this level are taken very seriously and are very well thought out.
I, for one, am drawn to these types of murders. The news that comes out of this trial will be staggering.
With no disrespect intended, this will make for a very entertaining made-for-tv movie someday: starring Paul Gross.
I see that Colonel Williams’ wife is Mary Elizabeth Harriman, an associate executive director of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. This just gets stranger and stranger.
About twenty years or so ago, Tweed was one of the places Elvis was reportedly living in after he faked his death. As I recall, once the rumour about Elvis and Tweed got going, it was a nine-day wonder; making it to supermarket tabloids and trashy daytime talk shows–Jerry Springer, for example, interviewed Elvis by telephone at his home in Tweed. Springer’s audience and tabloid readers are maybe not the best public for Tweed to relate to, but it isn’t often a small Ontario town is prominent in the media, and I heard no complaints from Tweed about the publicity.
This Colonel Williams, though–as has been mentioned, how did he ever rise to where he is while being what he is alleged to be? Count me as another who is going to be watching this one.
Very, very strange and disturbing. Hope the police can nail the guy, if he’s guilty.
I noticed the second article referred to “Canada’s secret base in the Middle East.” Any idea where that is? How long as it been in operation? Since 9-11, I presume.
Bizarre. I mean, I presume the Canadians do background checks on people before they reach this level of responsibility. This guy must have covered his trail very carefully.
What’s particularly striking about this is that, if any military can be warm and fuzzy, I’d always thought the Canadians had that military. No ding on their fighting abilities - the opposite, in fact. But the Canadians have long prided themselves, I thought, on their role as peacekeepers on UN missions - very difficult, demanding, and deeply humanitarian work. Seems an odd role for a sociopath.