Before Marcellus Williams’s conviction and time in jail, his former girlfriend, Laura testified against him. At that time, he had an elementary school child but wasn’t married.
On 24th September, Missouri executed Marcellus Williams at 6:10 p.m. CT after the U.S. Supreme Court turned down his request to postpone it.
Highlights
- Marcellus Williams was a dad to Marcellus Williams Jr., who was still in elementary school when his father was sent to prison.
- While Marcellus was behind bars, his kids were raised by Granny Ella, whom he called a true queen and a fantastic mother.
- Marcellus Williams’s girlfriend, Laura, saw him throw away the stained clothes he had worn during the crime.
His son, Marcellus Williams Jr., along with two of his lawyers, were present to witness the execution.
In his last words on September 21, Williams said, “All Praise Be to Allah In Every Situation!!!”
He was a committed Muslim and acted as an imam for inmates.
He spent over 20 years on Missouri’s death row for a 1998 homicide he claimed he didn’t commit.
On August 11, 1998, Felicia “Licia” Gayle, a former reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, was found stabbed to death in her home near St. Louis.
Although there were fingerprints, footprints, hair, and DNA on a knife at the scene, it took more than a year for police to make an arrest.
Marcellus Williams, who maintained his innocence, was convicted of her demise, even though his DNA did not match any of the evidence collected from the crime scene.
Marcellus Williams Jr.’s Grandmother, Ella, Took Care Of Him While Marcellus Williams Was in The Bars
Marcellus Williams was a dad to Marcellus Williams Jr., who was still in elementary school when his father was sent to prison.
Even though being a parent from behind bars was tough, Williams did his best to support his son.
While Marcellus Jr. grew up without his dad physically present, their shared faith kept their bond strong. Marcellus Jr.
Further, Marcellus Jr. started a petition to stop capital punishment because he believed the DNA evidence in his father’s case didn’t add up.
In 2021, Williams Jr. chose to leave boxing to concentrate on his father’s case.
Known as “The Boxing Goon,” he has put his fighting spirit into the fight for justice, working hard to free his father.
Williams Jr.’s profile indicates he works as an Asset Protection Manager at Macy’s. He studied at the UMSL Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center.
However, Williams Jr. hasn’t revealed much about his mother.
Once, he posted a picture of a woman, expressing that her news impacted him deeply, mentioning how wise and motherly she was toward him.
While his father was behind bars, he was raised by Granny Ella, whom he called a true queen and a fantastic mother.
He acknowledged how she has always supported her sons, even during difficult times like losing one son and having another in prison.
Marcellus Williams’s Former Girlfriend, Laura Asaro Testified Against Him
The case against Mr. Williams largely depended on the testimony of a prison informant named Mr. Cole and his ex-girlfriend, Laura Asaro.
The attorney general’s office stated that the personal belongings of the victim were found in Williams’s car.
A witness testified that Williams sold the victim’s laptop. Williams also admitted to his girlfriend and another inmate in the St. Louis City Jail that he was involved, and his girlfriend saw him throw away the bloody clothes he had worn during the crime.
Laura Asaro had previously testified against Mr. Williams and lied about her arrest history in her recorded testimony.
The police even considered charging her as an accomplice, and she told a neighbor she was being paid for her testimony.
Significant differences existed between Mr. Cole’s and Ms. Asaro’s accounts, and their stories didn’t match the evidence from the crime scene.
For example, Ms. Asaro claimed Mr. Williams had scratch marks, but no foreign DNA was found under Ms. Gayle’s nails.
Additional Information
- After Mike Parson became governor, he disbanded the board and canceled Williams’ stay of execution.
- In prison, Marcellus Williams worked in various areas, including industry, maintenance, service jobs, and agriculture, and he made a notable net worth of approximately $100k.
