In the summer of 1981, a quiet afternoon in Pierce County, Georgia, was shattered by a senseless act of violence that claimed the life of 58-year-old Morris Highsmith, a Black male. On June 22nd, while at Boatright's handyman store near Bristol, Highsmith and the store's owner, 64-year-old Alfred Boatright, were fatally shot during an armed robbery. The tragic event unfolded around 4:00 p.m., forever altering the lives of their families and the local community.
The perpetrator, driven by financial desperation, took ninety dollars from the store, leaving behind a scene of devastation.
The investigation swiftly led to the identification of a suspect: Willie James Wilson Jr., a 25-year-old soldier who had gone AWOL from Fort Stewart. Struggling with financial difficulties, Wilson had left the military base to 'clear up his head.' In the days leading up to the murders, he and an accomplice, Darris Miller, drove around looking for a place to rob. After aborting a plan in another town due to a police presence, they targeted the handyman store. Armed with a pistol, Wilson shot both Highsmith and Boatright, ensuring there would be no witnesses to his crime. He was later apprehended in Hinesville, Georgia.
Following his arrest, Willie James Wilson Jr. admitted to the shootings and the robbery, though he attempted to frame the killings as a misunderstanding and the theft as an afterthought. His confession, however, did little to diminish the cold-blooded nature of his actions. Wilson was subsequently tried and convicted on two counts of murder and one count of armed robbery. The court sentenced him to death for each of the murders and life in prison for the armed robbery. Despite later legal challenges regarding his mental capacity, his conviction and death sentence were ultimately upheld, bringing a measure of justice to the families of Morris Highsmith and Alfred Boatright.
