Leslie Allen Williams

Overview

Leslie Allen Williams, born on July 4, 1953, in Detroit, Michigan, is a notorious American serial killer, rapist, and necrophile. His heinous crimes, which spanned the early 1990s, involved the brutal murders and rapes of four teenage girls across Oakland and Genesee counties. Williams is currently serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole, but what makes this case particularly chilling is that he was on parole himself at the time of these gruesome acts, highlighting significant flaws in the Michigan parole system.

Quick Facts

• Born: July 4, 1953 (age 72)
• Place of Birth: Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
• Convictions:
  • First-degree murder (4 counts)
  • Kidnapping (5 counts)
  • First-degree criminal sexual conduct (6 counts)
  • Breaking and entering (3 counts)
• Criminal Penalty: Life imprisonment without parole
• Victims: 4
• Span of Crimes: September 14, 1991 – January 4, 1992
• Country: United States
• State: Michigan
• Date Apprehended: May 24, 1992

Early Life

Leslie Allen Williams had a tumultuous childhood. Born to a neglectful mother, he was sent to live with his grandparents. This early instability likely laid the groundwork for his future criminal behavior. His first brush with the law occurred in 1970 when he was just 17 years old; he was arrested for breaking and entering in his neighborhood. After serving a mere year in prison, he continued down a dark path, accumulating a series of arrests over the next 12 years. By September 1983, he was arrested for sexually assaulting a woman in her home, which resulted in a 20-year prison sentence. This pattern of escalating violence foreshadowed the horrific events that were to unfold.

The Murders

Williams's release from prison in 1990 marked the beginning of a terrifying chapter. Just nine months after being granted parole, he would commit his first murder.

The First Victim: Kami Villanueva

On September 14, 1991, Williams broke into the home of 18-year-old Kami Villanueva in Oakland County. In a night of horror, he raped and subsequently murdered her, burying her body in a shallow grave he had dug himself.

The Urbin Sisters

A mere two weeks later, on September 29, 1991, Williams struck again, this time targeting the Urbin sisters, 14-year-old Melissa and 16-year-old Michelle. While they were out for an evening walk, he abducted them, committing unspeakable acts of violence. After raping and killing both girls, he placed their bodies in his car and drove to a secluded location. There, he dug two shallow graves and, shockingly, engaged in necrophilic acts before finally burying them.

Cynthia Marie Jones

The final victim in this tragic series was 15-year-old Cynthia Marie Jones, whom Williams assaulted and murdered on January 4, 1992. Like the others, her body was concealed in a shallow grave, marking the end of a horrifying spree that left the community in shock.

Arrest

The end of Williams's reign of terror came on May 24, 1992. In a desperate attempt to attack another woman, he forcibly pulled her into his car at a cemetery. Fortunately, witnesses were present and quickly alerted the police, leading to his arrest. During interrogation, Williams confessed to the murders of the four girls, providing law enforcement with the locations of their shallow graves over the next three weeks. His confessions not only revealed the gruesome details of his crimes but also ignited public outrage and scrutiny over the Michigan parole system. The families of Melissa and Michelle Urbin were particularly vocal, blaming the parole board for allowing Williams to remain free.

Conviction

In 1992, Leslie Allen Williams was sentenced to life imprisonment for his crimes, which included four counts of first-degree murder and the attempted rape of the woman he had abducted. As of September 2024, he remains incarcerated at the Carson City Correctional Facility, a stark reminder of the devastating impact of his actions and the serious flaws in the system that once allowed him to walk free.

See Also

• List of homicides in Michigan
• List of serial killers in the United States

Sources

• "Offender Tracking Information System (OTIS) - Offender Profile." mdocweb.state.mi.us.
• "Michigan Parole Board Assailed After Killings." The New York Times, May 31, 1992.
• Witsil, Frank. "Coronavirus is killing haunted houses, but we still have real horror stories to scare you." Detroit Free Press.
• "Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan on April 26, 1992 · Page 12." Newspapers.com, April 26, 1992.

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