Thomas Andrew Williamson

Serial Killer

Thomas Andrew Williamson

Early Life

Thomas Andrew Williamson was born on April 23, 1831, in Mackinaw Township, Illinois, to farmer Reuben W. Williamson. His childhood was troubled: by age 10, he was stealing in Tazewell County, and at 13, he attempted a store robbery in Pekin, though he was ultimately acquitted. In his early 20s he suffered a partial paralysis. Later, he enlisted in the Union Army, serving in both the 7th and 108th Illinois Infantry Regiments during the Civil War, where he also stole small items from fellow soldiers .

First Murder – August Koch (1868, Delavan, Illinois)

In 1868, Williamson conspired with his brother-in-law Shivler and a friend, Harket, to visit the home of August Koch (an elderly German man) in Delavan, Illinois, under the guise of a friendly card game. A dispute over cheating turned violent: the three men fatally attacked Koch and buried his body beneath the house. Shivler and Harket were captured quickly; Williamson evaded arrest briefly before being caught in Springfield. All were sentenced to death, but Williamson’s sentence was commuted to 20 years—he served 11—and was released on April 1, 1879 .

Move to Missouri & Marriage

After his release, Williamson drifted across Illinois, Missouri, and Kansas, committing petty crimes. In January 1877, he married 57‑year‑old Susan Kerk in Centralia, Missouri. The couple traveled selling wares and eventually settled in a log cabin six miles outside Sedalia by fall 1889—though without Susan, who he later claimed died from renal colic in Illinois. Neighbors were suspicious, especially after he warned Dan Clossier (the cabin’s new owner) against digging under the house, saying he’d planted parsnips there . ...Read More

Confirmed Victims: (4)

August Koch , Date of Death: 1868

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WILLIAMSON Thomas Andrew | Serial Killer Database Wiki - Fandom

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