In the quiet community of Valley Cottage, a suburb of New City, New York, a horrific scene unfolded on the morning of May 26, 2020, forever altering the lives of a local family. On that day, 63-year-old Wanda Castor, a Black/African American female, and her 27-year-old daughter, Kathleen Castor, were found shot to death inside their Lake Road residence. The grim discovery was made by law enforcement officers at approximately 7:10 a.m.
Miraculously, Kathleen's one-month-old infant daughter was found alive and physically unharmed amidst the tragedy. The baby was promptly taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation and subsequently placed in the care of Child Protective Services.
The investigation into the double homicide quickly zeroed in on a person of interest, Robert C. Williams III, who was identified as Kathleen's ex-boyfriend. It was revealed that Kathleen had previously sought and obtained an order of protection against Williams, indicating a history of domestic troubles. Despite this legal measure, Williams managed to enter the home armed with a. 40 caliber firearm and carry out the fatal attack on both Wanda and her daughter. The senseless act of violence sent shockwaves through the community, leaving friends and family to grapple with an immeasurable loss.
Following an intensive multi-state investigation, Robert C. Williams III was apprehended four days after the murders. He was subsequently charged with a litany of serious offenses, including first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder, criminal possession of a weapon, and two counts of criminal contempt. Nearly two years after the tragic event, Williams' trial commenced. After two days of deliberation, a Rockland County jury found him guilty on all counts. For his crimes, Robert C. Williams III was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, ensuring that the man responsible for the brutal deaths of Wanda and Kathleen Castor would be held accountable for his actions.
