Had it not been for an intuitive mom who suspected foul play after her son's disappearance in 2000, people would still be convinced that Mike Williams actually drowned and got eaten by alligators. ''When I shot him, it was dark and there was a bright flash,' Winchester testified, adding later, 'I had to make it happen, I had no choice. There is no manual to tell a mother what to do when her child goes missing. Denise Williams stands trial in Leon County, Florida for the December 16, 2000 murder of her husband, who went by Mike. 'Brian told me that ya'll planned it,' Thomas told Denise.While he was being sentenced to 20 years in prison for kidnapping, Winchester was offered immunity in the murder case if he led authorities to the body. The child was 18 months old when her father vanished and is now aged 18.The gallery was filled with crying as Cheryl Williams wrapped up her emotional statement. See photos. Denise Williams, of Florida, is accused of conspiring to murder her husband, Mike Williams, with his best friend, Brian Winchester. Still, he decided to follow Williams-Winchester's new plan to get rid of Mike Williams by the lake.After the trial, Williams-Winchester was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Last month, a jury found Denise Williams guilty on three counts, including first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder, in the death of her husband, Jerry Michael “Mike” Williams. "Anslee, who is now 20 years old, was rewarded all the insurance money. 'Almost three weeks after he went missing, Denise Williams filed a $1.75 million insurance claim, which Winchester helped her fill out.Winchester helped authorities find Mike Williams' buried body in 2017.He disappeared on what would have been the couple's six wedding anniversary.Without a body, Denise petitioned to have her husband declared dead due to accidental drowning and she collected his death benefits.The victim's mother Cheryl Williams (seen in December) welled up with emotion as she delivered her victim impact statement in court on WednesdayBrian Winchester testified he had an affair with Denise Williams and shot her husband in December 2000. She now attends Florida State University and she also competes in pageants. But because of Cheryl Williams' efforts to reopen the investigation, over 17 years later, the remains of Williams' body were found and authorities actually confirmed that he was murdered.He offered these details and led investigators to Williams' remains in exchange for immunity in his case.In a shocking twist of events, in 2018 (and on his daughter's 19th birthday), Mike Williams' wife, Denise Williams-Winchester, was arrested on charges of first-degree murder, fraud, conspiracy, and accessory after the fact. And fortunately, it looks like the tragedy surrounding her family isn't slowing her down. 'We knew our window of opportunity was closing,' Winchester testified.On December 16, 2000, Brian Winchester and Mike Williams went duck hunting at Lake Seminole.After Mike's body was discovered, Winchester's ex-wife Thomas said she began working as an informant to record phone conversations with Denise.The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.She revealed in court how she suspected an affair between her husband and Denise, after Winchester suggested that they have a threesome together.Thomas confirmed that she went on a spring break trip to Panama City Beach with Denise and Winchester in 2001 after Mike's death.It was speculated at the time that he drowned and his body was devoured by alligators. No one else offered a statement at the sentencing.Denise Williams was sentenced to life in prison, without the possibility of parole.The judge acknowledged the 'strong emotions' in the case.Chilling testimony during the trial revealed how the murder plot unfolded - and later unraveled.Mike, Denise, Winchester and Winchester's ex-wife, Kathy Thomas, were all close friends and attended North Florida Christian School together. She competed for Miss Florida USA and she actually won Miss Tallahassee Teen USA in 2017.Williams-Winchester has been serving her time at the Florida Women’s Reception Center, located in Ocala, Marion County, Fla.