Florida death-row exoneree Clifford Williams, Jr. dies
Last week, after less than five years out of prison, Williams passed away after battling cancer.
Clifford Williams, Jr. and his cousin, Nathan Meyers, were convicted of first-degree murder (and attempted murder) in Duval County in 1976. The jury recommended that both Williams and Meyers be sentenced to life; however, the trial court sentenced Williams to death by jury override. Williams spent four years on Florida’s death row before being resentenced to life. He remained in prison in Florida for another 39 years.
In 2019, Williams’ and Meyers’ convictions were overturned by Jacksonville's Conviction Integrity Review Unit. He was Florida’s 29th death-row exoneree. (A full list of Florida’s death-row exonerees can be found here.)
Williams was released on March 28, 2019. About a year after Williams was released, Gov. DeSantis signed a bill to pay Williams just over $2 million.1
Last week, after less than five years out of prison, Williams passed away after battling cancer.