March 3, 2025 | By: Jordyn Walden 

This story is part of a collaborative project between Project: Cold Case and the University of North Florida’s Applied Journalism class.

Elizabeth Williams was born in 1934 in Vicksburg, Mississippi, and grew up quickly – her father died early on in a workplace incident, and her mother struggled. At a young age, the burden of caring for her siblings was placed on her. It was a rough life.

“She hated holidays,” said her great-grandson, Kyle Hall. He suspects it was because her own mother had died on Christmas Eve.

As a grandmother, though, she learned to find joy in life’s simple things. She spent most of her time cooking, sewing, and gardening. But that ended in 2006 when she died due to blunt force trauma to the head in her Warren County, Mississippi home. Police say she was murdered. But the crime has never been solved.

Kyle and his great-grandmother shared a strong bond, more like mother and son. They spent a lot of time together, wrote poetry together, and cooked the best Southern comfort food. Kyle said his favorite meal was her salmon croquettes.

Two days before Elizabeth was murdered, Kyle spoke to her. She asked if he could help clean the garden. He couldn’t make it due to a busy schedule. That was the last time they spoke.

On January 15, 2006, Elizabeth Williams was found dead in her Mississippi home. The victim of a violent attack. Her car, a 1997 Chevy Malibu, was found at a motel not even a mile and a half away. Elizabeth’s niece found her after being unable to reach her by phone. Police suspected robbery was the motive, but with no arrest or suspect, other theories have been considered by the family.

The murder of his great-grandmother has affected Kyle since the day it happened. Fortunately, he has his kids to comfort him on days when he misses his great-grandmother the most. Her murder created a fracture within the family that still remains almost two decades after her death.

---

Anyone with information concerning Elizabeth Williams’ unsolved homicide is asked to call the Warren County Sheriff’s Office at (601) 636-1761. To remain anonymous and possibly be eligible for a reward, call Central Mississippi Crime Stoppers at 1-601-355-TIPS (8477).

---

Please consider using the buttons below to share this case in hopes that someone, somewhere will come forward and give this victim and family the answers they need and the justice they deserve.

If you have a loved one that is the victim of an unsolved homicide, please submit their case here for consideration in a future Cold Case Spotlight post.