Naman Shrestha
In NBC’s ‘Dateline: Secrets at Lake Seminole,’ the primary focus is on the sudden disappearance of Jerry Michael “Mike” Williams in December 2000 during a seemingly regular duck hunting trip on Lake Seminole. For several years, the truth and his remains remained undiscovered. It was only nearly two decades later that the killer, Brian Winchester, who was the victim’s best friend and hunting buddy, came forward and provided a chilling confession to the authorities. Admitting to the crime, he also shared a dark secret that cracked open the entire case.
Brian Winchester Plotted Mike Williams’ Murder With Denise Williams
Born on October 27, 1970, Brian S. Winchester attended North Florida Christian High School, where he met his future wife, Kathy Thomas. He was also close friends with Michael “Mike” Williams and Denise. According to Brian, he was also in a romantic relationship with Denise for a while during his high school years. After completing his education, he tied the knot with Kathy and maintained his friendship with the married couple, Mike and Denise. In the following years, he entered parenthood with his wife as the couple welcomed children of their own into the world. Meanwhile, the two couples became closer as they went on double dates frequently. The dynamics between them changed in 1997, when Brian and Denise started having an extramarital affair.
As one thing led to another, the affair turned into something serious, so much so that they considered getting rid of their partners so that they could marry and be together. However, Brian claimed he didn’t want to kill the mother of his children. So, he and Denise came up with a plan to kill Mike and make it appear like a boating accident. On the fateful morning of December 16, 2000, he went to Lake Seminole with Mike, who thought it was a regular duck hunting excursion. After a while, Brian convinced him to put the waders on before pushing him into the water, with the intention of drowning him. When the plan failed, he pulled out his gun and shot him in the head. He then proceeded to drive the remains all the way to Tallahassee, where he buried them near Lake Carr.
Soon, when the search for Mike got underway, he strategically planted his clothing and belongings in the lake, staging it to be a hunting accident. This led the authorities to declare him dead, allowing Denise to claim three life insurance policies worth more than $1 million. After the killing, his marriage to Kathy crumbled, and the two parted ways. Following the divorce, he made his relationship with Denise official and the two eventually married in 2005. Over the next few years, the bond between them deteriorated due to his reported sex addiction, so much so that in 2015, Denise filed for divorce.
Brian Winchester is Currently Incarcerated at a Florida Prison Facility
Not ready to let go of her, Brian Winchester entered her car on August 5, 2016, as she was leaving for her home from Florida State University. He pulled out a gun and pointed it at her, claiming that he planned to kill himself if she went through with the divorce. Denise managed to pacify him, after which he apologized for his behavior. Although she promised that she would not involve the police, she reported the incident to the authorities soon after. He was eventually arrested and charged with kidnapping, domestic assault, and armed burglary, keeping him in custody without bond. Initially, he pleaded not guilty to the charges against him, only to change his plea to no contest about a year later.
Before his sentencing, he reportedly struck a deal with the prosecution and agreed to implicate Denise in the murder of Mike Williams in exchange for getting a pass for the murder himself. According to the deal, his confession could not be used against him. Brian also led the investigators to the burial site near Lake Carr, where he had buried Mike’s remains after killing him in 2000. The immunity deal also saved him from being sentenced to life in connection with the armed kidnapping of Denise in August 2016. Finally, in December 2017, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison, and credited for the 502 days that he had already spent behind bars.
On top of that, he was also ordered to serve 15 years of probation following the completion of his sentence. A few months later, in May 2018, Denise was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to murder, and accessory after the fact in connection with the killing of her first husband, Mike. After pleading not guilty, her trial commenced, where Brian was the star witness for the prosecution. His chilling confession and claims that Denise was instrumental in the planning of the murder led the jury to find her guilty of the same. In February 2019, she was sentenced to life in prison. As of today, Brian Winchester is serving his sentence at Madison Correctional Institution in Madison, Florida, with his release date scheduled for July 2036.
Read More: Cheryl Williams: Where is Mike Williams’ Mom Now?
