On a cold February morning in 2016, the quiet community of Wareham, Massachusetts, was unsettled by the discovery of a beloved resident's brutal death. John E. Williams II, a 70-year-old Caucasian male, was found deceased in his home on Glen Charlie Road on February 9, 2016. Friends, worried after not hearing from him, had requested a welfare check, leading police to the grim scene.
Williams, a father and grandfather known for his friendly nature and passions for amateur piloting, ham radio, and motorcycles, was discovered in a pool of blood, having sustained numerous wounds.
The investigation into the homicide quickly zeroed in on a suspect: 70-year-old John Wittey of Berkley. The two men had a connection through a shared interest in amateur radio. The motive for the violent act was determined to be a love triangle. Wittey had recently found out that Williams had been romantically involved with his own late girlfriend. This revelation is believed to have driven Wittey to a tragic act of violence.
Evidence gathered by investigators painted a clear picture of the events that transpired. GPS data from Wittey’s car placed him at Williams's home multiple times on the night of the murder. At the scene, investigators found evidence including spent 9mm handgun casings. A search of Wittey's residence uncovered two handguns, one of which was matched to the crime scene, and the other bore Williams's blood. Clothing with the victim's blood was also discovered. An autopsy would later confirm that Williams died from ten gunshot wounds and multiple sharp force injuries to his torso, hands, and arms, some of which were described as defensive wounds.
John Wittey was arrested just three days after Williams's body was found. Despite his initial denial, claiming he had been on a "joy ride" to New Jersey, the evidence against him was overwhelming. In October 2019, following an eight-day trial, a jury found John Wittey guilty of first-degree murder with extreme atrocity and cruelty and with deliberate premeditation. He was subsequently sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, bringing a close to the tragic case that took the life of a well-regarded member of the Wareham community.
