Shivangi Sinha
In August 2020, Gregory Williams was discovered with a fatal stab wound to his chest outside a home in St. Louis County, Missouri. Though he was rushed to a hospital, he died shortly after arrival. Investigators traced his last known movements and learned he had been in a car just blocks away with his wife, Erica Williams. Critical evidence, including the murder weapon and CCTV footage, pointed to Erica as the primary suspect. However, she claimed she acted in self-defense and could not clearly recall what had happened. A&E’s ‘Accused: Did I Do It?’ episode titled ‘Murderous Wife or Battered Spouse?’ explores the case from both the prosecution’s and defense’s perspectives and raises compelling questions.
Erica Williams Allegedly Faced Violence in Her Marriage With Gregory Williams
Erica Cross was raised in St. Louis County, Missouri, surrounded by the love and support of her mother, Makeba Cross, and her two sisters, Makeia Miller and Kali Cross. They stood by her through life’s challenges, and she remained deeply grateful to them. As Erica matured, she began to explore and embrace her true identity and eventually chose to transition. Her family fully supported her decision and offered encouragement throughout the journey. Erica later shared that romantic love had often felt out of reach for her until August 2014, when she met Gregory Williams. At that moment, she believed she had finally found her lifelong partner.
At the time, Gregory was 21 years old and was working as a production line operator. He and Erica quickly connected and began a romantic relationship. In 2017, he proposed, and she was overjoyed to say yes. The couple married soon after and moved in together, hopeful about building a future as husband and wife. However, Erica later claimed that troubling patterns began to emerge in their marriage. She alleged that Gregory became increasingly aggressive toward her. Her family also claimed that they had witnessed violent confrontations between the couple and had allegedly seen Gregory physically assault Erica on multiple occasions.
Erica and Gregory Were Living Separately When the Latter Passed Away
Erica Williams stated that things had deteriorated so much in the relationship that by July 2020, she chose to leave and relocate to Kansas City, Missouri. She said she was trying to start over, but soon after, Gregory called her, claiming he was in a bad place emotionally. He asked to see her, and at the time, he was staying at a hotel in St. Louis. Erica agreed to meet him, picked him up from the hotel, and they drove to a parking lot near an apartment complex on Sieloff Drive in Hazelwood, Missouri. According to her, it was there that Gregory allegedly attacked her.
She claimed that the next thing she remembered was pushing him away and out of the car. CCTV footage later showed Gregory stumbling out of the vehicle and walking a short distance before collapsing in front of a nearby yard. Erica had already called 911 by then and told the dispatcher that she had been attacked. The police brought Erica in for questioning, during which she denied causing any harm to Gregory. It was during the interrogation that officers informed her that her husband had died, but she continued to insist she had nothing to do with it.
She was released at the time while authorities carried on with their investigation. A trail of blood was discovered leading from the parking lot to where Gregory collapsed. Then, in February 2021, DNA test results from a knife recovered inside the vehicle came back, showing Erica’s DNA on the weapon. Based on this evidence, she was charged with second-degree murder and held on a $300,000 cash-only bail. Though she later secured her release, she now had to focus on building her defense.
Erica Williams is Leading a Free and Private Life Today
Erica Williams consistently claimed that she had no memory of harming Gregory Williams. A forensic evaluation of her mental state concluded that she had Battered Woman Syndrome. The report further suggested that, due to the trauma and fear she experienced, it was plausible for her to forget crucial details during a violent confrontation. Her defense team also uncovered that Gregory had a documented history of domestic violence. In 2014, he was charged and convicted, receiving a seven-year prison sentence. He was released in February 2020. However, a complicating factor arose. In June 2020, his parole officer reported that Erica had stabbed him in the chest, though Gregory chose not to press charges at the time.
In May 2023, both sides presented their arguments during Erica’s trial. She took the witness stand in her own defense, detailing the alleged abuse she endured and becoming emotional as she spoke about Gregory’s death. After a few hours of deliberation, the jury found her not guilty of second-degree murder and armed criminal action. She described the verdict as the most relieving day of her life, with her family standing by her side throughout. Since then, Erica has kept a low profile and is believed to be living in St. Louis, Missouri. Given the trauma she experienced, it’s understandable that she would choose to stay out of the public eye.
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