Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Not Guilty Plea Entered By Williams

Herbert Williams, who was charged with the murder of his estranged wife, went before 8th Judicial District Judge Joe Griffin Thursday, Aug. 31, to enter a plea of not guilty for the crime.

As he stood before Griffin, he was advised of his rights under the Miranda Act and reminded of the charge against him. The original charge against Williams was capital murder, but this was reduced to first degree murder, which carries a sentence of 10 to 40 years in prison or life. He was also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, a class D felony punishable by six years in prison and a fine of no more than $10,000.

Williams is accused of killing his estranged wife, Linda Williams, on Aug. 6, 1995. Williams entered pleas of not guilty to both charges.

The death of his wife began as a missing person case. Members of her family reported her missing around 10 p.m. Aug. 7. They told Nevada County Sheriff Harold Vines she had last been seen about 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 6, when she left work.

Her body was found between early Tuesday morning after an all-night search. Wally Hulan her remains in a gravel pit about seven miles east of Prescott on Highway 24. The pit was about a mile off the highway.

Authorities had a break in the case as Williams was already in custody on charges of felon in possession of a firearm, a .20-gauge shotgun.

According to Vines, Williams apparently drove the body to the gravel pit in Mrs. Williams' mother's car and dumped her in. He said she had apparently been shot with a shotgun.

Williams was charged with first degree murder shortly thereafter.