William Alvarado was remembered by his family as a gentle, quiet, and sweet man. At 73 years old, the male resident of Willimantic, Connecticut, was described as friendly, loving, humble, and kind. His niece, Melissa Alvarado Lee, recalled that he was overly trusting and accepting, a trait that she feared may have placed him in a vulnerable situation. His ex-sister-in-law, Carmen Everett, described him as the "most loving, humble, kind human being." In his brother Oscar's home, a painting of William hangs surrounded by family photos, and a collection of his pictures on the kitchen counter is adorned with rosary beads and candles that Oscar lights daily in his memory.
On the morning of September 7, 2016, William Alvarado was found dead inside his apartment at the John J. Ashton Towers, a public housing complex for low-income seniors and individuals with mental health issues, located at 621 Valley Street. Police were called to the scene around 7:15 a.m.
for an untimely death investigation. The nature of his death was immediately considered suspicious. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner later ruled his death a homicide, determining that he had died from a stab wound to the neck. Some reports specified that his throat had been slashed.
The Willimantic Police Department requested the assistance of the Connecticut State Police Eastern District Major Crime squad, who took over the investigation. For years, the case grew cold with no suspects identified. Investigators and Alvarado's family have long believed that he likely knew his killer. His niece felt he may have befriended the wrong person, and an investigator with the Connecticut Cold Case Unit noted that Alvarado had a large base of friends and knew many people in the area where he was murdered very well.
The investigation saw a significant development years after the murder, thanks to a tip that came in after William's case was featured on a deck of cold case playing cards distributed in correctional facilities. His case was highlighted as the Ace of Spades. This new information reinvigorated the investigation, giving detectives their most promising leads in years.
In June 2023, nearly seven years after the killing, law enforcement held a press conference to announce a renewed push for information. Willimantic Police Chief Paul Hussey stated, "Nearly seven years ago, Mr. Alvarado’s life tragically ended and since then, he has not been forgotten. We believe there is someone out there who can help bring justice for the Alvarado family." Windham State’s Attorney Anne F. Mahoney urged the public to come forward, saying, "You may not understand the significance of the information that you have, but you may be an important piece of the puzzle."
Alvarado's family joined the appeal for help, expressing their ongoing pain and hope for a resolution. "It’s devastating, and we want closure to this unsolved case," said family member Carmen Everett. His niece, Melissa Alvarado Lee, spoke of the emotional toll, saying, "You try to live and then it gets brought back up and something like this comes up and you’re hopeful but unbelievably sad at the same time." She pleaded for anyone with information to come forward "so no other innocent individual can get hurt the way he did."
As of June 2023, the investigation into William Alvarado's murder is active and ongoing. Governor Ned Lamont approved a $50,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for his death. An old poster advertising a smaller, initial reward still hangs on a bulletin board in the lobby of the apartment complex where he lived and died.
Authorities ask anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to contact the Willimantic Police Department at (860) 465-3135 or the Connecticut Cold Case Unit at 1-866-623-8058. Tips can also be sent by email to [email protected], through a direct message to the Connecticut DCJ Cold Case Unit Facebook page, or by mail to the Willimantic Police Department at 22 Meadow Street, Willimantic, CT 06226.
