Michelle Williams, a 24-year-old African American woman, was tragically killed on June 30, 2019, in East St. Louis, Illinois. She was found outside a gas station and convenience store near State and North 83rd streets, having been shot multiple times. Despite the efforts of first responders, she was pronounced dead at the scene. Michelle was a mother of two and had been staying at a shelter for women experiencing or near homelessness at the time of her death.
The investigation into
Michelle Williams' murder led to the arrest of Timothy Stokes, who was later convicted in 2023 in St. Clair County Circuit Court. Stokes, who was already serving a life sentence for another murder, was found guilty of shooting Michelle Williams. On the morning of her death, witnesses described a man matching Stokes' description near the scene. Shortly after the murder, Illinois State Police troopers spotted Stokes walking along Interstate 255. When approached, he opened fire on the officers, leading to a manhunt that ended with his arrest in an abandoned home.
Stokes was charged with first-degree murder and aggravated discharge of a firearm toward a police officer. He received a life sentence for Michelle Williams' murder and an additional 20 years for the firearm charge. The weapon used in Michelle's murder was also linked to another killing that occurred on the same day, further solidifying the case against Stokes. His conviction brought some measure of justice for Michelle Williams and her family, though the loss of her life remains a profound tragedy.
