Awaiting the trial, White fled on April 29, with one of Lauderdale County officials responsible for keeping him in custody. They were targeted by national deserters and were finally captured in Indiana on May 9.
“We have been suffering from cold cases for years. We got him. We had him. We thought we had him. He ran away, “Williams said. “You are like learning life. There are many things you can control.”
Through Williams is a deep faith in his mother, the mother of the Southern Baptist Convention. Given to her sons, she conveyed the fact that she did not want to miserate her loved ones. He said White was a violent and scary man. Williams said it was more important than his personal closure if police needed to take strong action to protect the public.
She was always there for the boy
Williams said that Ridgeway’s family wasn’t the only one to lose her. In the Meadows apartment where she lived, many of her neighbors were elderly or fixed income. Some people didn’t have a car. She got them into a grocery store, a doctor’s office, or even Huntsville or Birmingham.
She also created and crafted angels from white felt for passing from Rogersville to a congregation of friends, family and fellow Baptists at the Clements Baptist Church, directly across from the Wheeler Reservoir. Before Austin and his brother Cameron went to college, she confirmed that they were in church twice, every Wednesday night and Sunday. According to Williams, they usually sat with their grandparents five rows away from the pulpit.
“She was like never met a stranger. In that community she was really loved and grateful,” he said. “Everyone knew her sweet, kind, smiling and happy.”
The last time Williams met his mom It was August 2015, just before his birthday. Ridgeway always grew up on his birthday. She didn’t make much money when Austin and Cameron were children, but she saved enough money for the boys to get the gifts they wanted-a small fortune for women working at Hardy’s. Even some video games over $ 50. (40-year-old Cameron Williams was unable to respond to the interview immediately. His brother said he was in a “rough place” and Cameron demanded a few days to compose his thoughts. .)
The tradition continued as they grew into men. Ridgeway loved visiting Atlanta for Austin Williams’ birthday and the Atlanta Braves match. One year, I visited even though my toes were broken. Williams was definitely in pain when she stepped into Turner Field, but the opportunity to be with her sons was too important to miss.
One of Williams’ most missed things is the Mississippi mud cake she made on her birthday. She made it the way he liked: no nuts, only marshmallow and chocolate icing on top.
In August 2015, Ridgeway was struggling financially. Her second husband died in 2003 without life insurance, Williams said. She lives in Rogersville, a 1,400 town about 14 miles from the Tennessee border, and she wanted to see Williams on his birthday. Williams asked his brother to remit the gas bill and met along the way at a pizzeria near Birmingham, Alabama, to ease his burden.
It was the month after Cameron’s wedding, and there was a “new marriage atmosphere” on that occasion, Williams said. Much of the conversation revolved around Cameron and his new wife, Rachel. After eating the pizza, they went to the park and said goodbye. They were wrong.
Ridgeway spoke on the phone with Williams’ current wife, Eljona, who was in Albania at the time, but never met her in person. The last text to Williams on Ridgeway four days before her body was discovered was about Eljona’s visa and their wedding plans. She also never met her grandchildren. The first of the five was on her way when Ridgeway was murdered.
Escape of prisoners robs hope
The housing complex and the surrounding community were shaken by the murder of Ridgeway. Her neighbor was worried after not seeing her, and she visited her apartment on October 23, 2015, but there was a ridgeway on her floor with a half-open door. A Lauderdale County High School football game was underway across the street when police landed in the complex. The word spread rapidly.
Williams was in Atlanta on his way to a Halloween event in the graveyard. Her brother called and said her mother was found “bloody” in her apartment. The ambulance was on the way.
Williams Somehow He said he knew she had been stabbed. He went home, packed up his luggage and headed for Rogersville. His worst horror was confirmed when he stopped halfway to talk to his father (Ridgeway’s first husband) who told him what had happened.
When Williams arrived a few hours later murder The scene was cleared, but his brother was still there. Everything was blurry and reality began the next day with “weight” and depression. Ridgeway is a petite woman and Williams couldn’t stop thinking about what she felt when someone forced her into her disturbing brand violence. He stopped talking to his friends. He said it was difficult to mourn in all the unknown worlds.
Williams did not know how serious his depression was until the victim representative of the Lauderdale District Attorney’s Office requested a visit with him and his brother in August 2020. She later explained that Casey White confessed the murder of his mother two months ago and authorities confirmed part of his account.
Casey White was a familiar name, Williams said. Police told Williams that he had interviewed White early in the investigation, but he denied his involvement. In the news of the confession, Williams felt the weight sensation softened for the first time since the murder of his mother.His mother said she was able to rest in peace now that she was alleged The killer was known.
Williams’ tranquility was shattered anew when he learned that White intended to be acquitted for madness, and again a few months later when he heard that White withdrew his confession. However, he continued to expect some answers, and the closure may be offered in court.
“You’re miserable for a long time. When you experience a cold incident, you don’t know how miserable you are. He confesses, and it’s much lighter for some reason. Wow, I’m I didn’t know how miserable it was, “he said. “I’m sure she’s happy and happy that we’re pursuing justice as much as possible, but for her, I think she wants us not to be miserable … That’s why I get over it. For a long time I was completely skeptical, “Well, I hope they catch the guy, but if I can’t, I don’t want to make him a public threat. It’s like.
Source: www.cnn.com