UPDATED: Cottondale Couple's Bodies Mutilated (GRAPHIC CONTENT)
By: Scott Packard, SPackard@wdhn.com
Updated: February 23, 2011
Things in the small town of Cottondale may never be normal again. "I've investigated several murders before. This one is beyond what I've seen," Cottondale Police Chief William Watford said.
It's a crime that shook the small community to the core. A husband and wife found shot to death in their own home. Their son was named the prime suspect and later killed in a shoot out with police. That shootout also killed a Florida correctional officer.
We now know more about what investigators say happened behind the walls of Bruce and Sharon Williams home the night of January 25th. Cottondale Police Chief William Watford says Wade Williams shot his mom first, drug her body to another room and waiting for his dad to arrive home. When he did, police say Wade Williams killed him too. Both were shot multiple times in the head.
Police say Wade Williams then mutilated his parent's bodies. "Sharon was cut in the upper torso area of her body. The lower area on Bruce Williams-- his private area-- was also cut," Chief Williams continued.
The question remaining is why. Why did a son apparently commit such vicious acts against his own parents?
"We've checked in every way possible. We've checked with family members, we talked to a couple of people who actually knew him. The motive-- we have no idea what the motive could have been. None at all," Watford continued.
Investigators say they are waiting on results from a crime lab to determine if Sharon Williams was sexually assaulted. They also say they're almost certain Wade Williams acted alone but are waiting on DNA and finger print results to close the case.
It's a crime that shook the small community to the core. A husband and wife found shot to death in their own home. Their son was named the prime suspect and later killed in a shoot out with police. That shootout also killed a Florida correctional officer.
We now know more about what investigators say happened behind the walls of Bruce and Sharon Williams home the night of January 25th. Cottondale Police Chief William Watford says Wade Williams shot his mom first, drug her body to another room and waiting for his dad to arrive home. When he did, police say Wade Williams killed him too. Both were shot multiple times in the head.
Police say Wade Williams then mutilated his parent's bodies. "Sharon was cut in the upper torso area of her body. The lower area on Bruce Williams-- his private area-- was also cut," Chief Williams continued.
The question remaining is why. Why did a son apparently commit such vicious acts against his own parents?
"We've checked in every way possible. We've checked with family members, we talked to a couple of people who actually knew him. The motive-- we have no idea what the motive could have been. None at all," Watford continued.
Investigators say they are waiting on results from a crime lab to determine if Sharon Williams was sexually assaulted. They also say they're almost certain Wade Williams acted alone but are waiting on DNA and finger print results to close the case.
