Naman Shrestha
A duck hunting trip down to Lake Seminole turned into a deadly ordeal for Jerry Michael “Mike” Williams in the winter of 2000, as he was brutally killed. When his remains could not be found for months on end, the police declared him dead and believed that he had accidentally drowned and became a victim for the alligators in the lake. Several years later, the dark secrets surfaced and led the detectives to the perpetrator/s responsible for the gruesome crime. The episode titled ‘Secrets of Lake Seminole’ of NBC’s ‘Dateline’ delves deep into the entire case and the investigation that followed, with the help of the personal accounts of Mike’s loved ones.
Jerry Michael “Mike” Williams Was a Devoted Father and Reputed Real Estate Appraiser
Jerry Michael “Mike” Williams was born on October 16, 1969, to Jerry Jerome Williams and Cheryl Williams. He spent his formative years engulfed in the loving and nurturing environment his parents created for him in their household in Tallahassee in Leon County, Florida. He obtained his early education from North Florida Christian High School. He was a bright and active individual who loved playing football. His skills made him a rising star among his peers, who admired him for his friendly and easygoing nature. In high school, his paths crossed with Denise. Soon, they developed a liking for each other and soon got into a relationship. He served as the Student Body President and was also voted as the Best Personality, while Denise was part of the cheerleading team and eventually emerged as the Homecoming Queen.
Mike and Denise’s connection strengthened as time passed. The high school sweethearts remained strong even as they enrolled at Florida State University. After graduating from FSU, they continued to see each other while building their respective careers. They worked towards achieving their professional goals while looking forward to sharing a life together. Mike found his calling in the real estate industry and went on to become a Real Estate Appraiser, dealing in properties in Tallahassee. Meanwhile, Denise earned her Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license.
Mike had extensive knowledge and experience regarding the adventures of the outdoors and loved to explore the wilderness. When he wasn’t working hard for his future, he loved to unwind by engaging in a hunting or fishing session. On December 16, 1994, when Denise and Mike were likely in their mid-20s, they tied the knot in the presence of their loved ones and embarked on a journey of a lifetime. Over 4 years later, on May 9, 1999, the two welcomed an adorable baby girl named Anslee into their lives. Their daughter’s arrival was particularly special as it fell on Mother’s Day. As a doting father and devoted husband, Mike was determined to give his wife and daughter the life they deserved.
Jerry Michael “Mike” Williams Met His End Doing What He Loved Most
Mike worked towards fulfilling his commitment to his family every single day. Unfortunately, their lives were turned upside down on December 16, 2000. He set out for Lake Seminole in Florida to hunt ducks that morning. Since it was their sixth wedding anniversary, he had promised to return around noon, as he didn’t want to miss celebrating the day with the love of his life. Denise began growing concerned when he didn’t make it back on time. After multiple calls to him and those he knew yielded no positive outcome, a search mission was launched about six hours later.
After looking for the father of one in and around the area surrounding the lake for a while, a boat and a car belonging to the man were discovered. However, there was no sign of him. The authorities continued to look for him, and six months later, they made a discovery. Mike’s waders, fishing jacket, hunting license, and flashlight turned up at Lake Seminole. Soon, wild theories such as Mike falling prey to alligators after falling overboard began doing the rounds. To the disappointment of his family members, he was declared dead.
Mike’s mother, Cheryl Williams, strongly believed in the presence of foul play and continued her fight to bring the truth to light. Accordingly, she reportedly compiled notes of 27 pages, reportedly to prove the 31-year-old was killed. Not just that, for 9 years, she also sent a letter to the Governor of Florida (at the time), seeking his assistance in reopening her son’s case. According to CBS News, Cheryl had written around 1472 letters. Ultimately, 17 years later, his remains were uncovered on the shore of Carr Lake in Leon County, off a dead-end road. They were buried deep in the mud. Medical reports determined the cause of death of Jerry Michael “Mike” Williams to be a gunshot wound to the head.
Someone Close to Jerry Michael “Mike” Williams Was Responsible for the Murder
With no evidence or clue at the disposal of the authorities after the disappearance of Mike Williams, the case went cold. Meanwhile, his wife, Denise Williams, collected over a million dollars from his life insurance policies after he was officially declared dead. The detectives later learned that she and Mike’s best friend and hunting buddy, Brian Winchester, were having an extramarital affair for nearly three years at the time of the disappearance. Brian also attended the same private Christian high school as Mike and Denise, and was also married to his high school sweetheart, Kathy.
Not long after Mike disappeared, Brian and Kathy parted ways, after which the former openly dated Denise for several years. In 2005, the pair exchanged marital vows and tied the knot. However, their marriage began deteriorating, reportedly due to Brian’s sex addiction. By 2012, they became estranged and separated. Three years later, Denise finally filed for divorce while Brian kept putting it off. In an attempt to stay married to her, he reportedly ambushed her in her truck on August 5, 2016, and tried to kidnap her at gunpoint, while claiming that he would take his life. Although she managed to calm him down and escape the situation, he was charged with kidnapping, domestic assault, and armed burglary.
At the time, the investigators were suspicious of their involvement in the disappearance of Mike due to their marriage and the deceased’s life insurance policies. So, Brian’s arrest allowed them to question him and make a deal. In exchange for not being charged with the murder, he confessed to killing Mike and testifying against Denise. He admitted that he and Denise had planned to kill Mike and stage it as a boating accident so that they could be together. He told the detectives that on the fateful morning, he accompanied Mike to Lake Seminole and pushed him into the water, hoping that he would drown. However, when the real estate appraiser managed to hold on, Brian shot him in the head before burying his remains near Lake Carr, about 60 miles away from the murder site.
One of the Killers Testified Against the Other in Court
In order to help Denise claim the life insurance policies, Brian then allegedly returned to Lake Seminole under the pretence of searching for Mike and planted his fishing jacket, flashlight, and other gears, making the police believe that he had died. Moreover, after his chilling confession, he led the detectives to Lake Carr, where he had buried the remains. Eventually, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison for the kidnapping charge. A few months later, in May 2018, Denise Williams was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and accessory after the fact.
Denise pleaded not guilty to all the charges against her, deciding to take her chances in court. During her trial in December 2018, the defense argued that she didn’t have any clue about her former husband’s murder. On the other hand, the prosecution called many witnesses to the stand, including their star witness, Brian. He testified that Denise was also heavily involved in the planning of the killing. After 8 hours of deliberation, the jury reached a verdict and convicted her of all the charges, including first-degree murder. In January 2019, Denise was sentenced to life in prison for the murder and an additional 30 years for conspiring with Brian to commit the crime.
Read More: Where is Denise Williams Now? Update on Mike Williams’ Ex-Wife
