In the late evening of Sunday, June 29, 2014, the quiet community of Nassau, New York, was met with a somber discovery. The body of 27-year-old Kerstin Suzanne Williams, a female resident of Nassau, was found by fishermen along the southern shore of Nassau Lake. An autopsy later confirmed that Williams had died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound from her service-issued weapon.
State Police reported that she did not leave a note.
A lifelong resident of Nassau, Kerstin was a dedicated and ambitious individual. She had graduated with honors from Catholic High School in Lansingburg and went on to earn a degree in Criminal Justice from the College of St. Rose in 2008. Inspired by her uncle, she pursued a career in law enforcement and excelled, scoring in the top percentile on the New York State Trooper Entrance Exam. In October 2012, she was sworn in as a New York State Trooper, a position she held with passion and dedication.
Those who knew Kerstin described her as having a positive demeanor and a strong work ethic. She was well-liked by her colleagues and supervisors in the State Police, who saw the potential for an outstanding career ahead of her. Beyond her professional life, she was deeply devoted to her family and friends, especially her younger cousins. Her sudden death was a profound shock to her loved ones and the law enforcement community.
