preview

Robert Williams Case

Decent Essays
Open Document

On December 24, 1968 a 10-year old girl named Pamela Powers was abducted from a YMCA in Des Moines, Iowa. Robert Williams, also a member of the YMCA and a recent escapee from a mental institution was observed a short time after the abduction carrying a large bundle of clothing to his vehicle. Mr. Williams asked a young boy to assist him in getting the door open and the boy saw what he described as two pale legs within the bundle of clothing. No one was able to further investigate what was inside of the bundle before Mr. Williams drove away. His abandoned vehicle was found the following day in Davenport, Iowa, approximately 160 miles away from Des Moines. Shortly after the incident a warrant was secured in Des Moines for his arrest on an abduction …show more content…

Williams contacted the Des Moines Police Department to negotiate his surrender on the warrant. It was agreed upon by all parties that Mr. Williams would turn himself into the Davenport Police Department and would be transported back to Des Moines. Mr. Williams was read his Miranda Warning and was advised by telephone by his attorney that he needed to answer no further questions without his counsel. This request was made in front of the Des Moines Police Chief and everyone in the room agreed upon Detective Leaming and these stipulations. While waiting on transport Mr. Williams was arraigned before a judge in Davenport on the outstanding arrest warrant was again advised of his rights then committed to jail. Before leaving the courtroom, Williams conferred with a lawyer named Kelly, who advised him not to make any statements until consulting with McKnight when he arrived in Des Moines. Ultimately Detective Leaming used Mr. Williams religious beliefs against him in a “non-interrogating” conversation to pressure Mr. Williams into disclosing the location of Pamela’s remains on the trip back to Des Moines. Questions were raised in the Supreme Court case Brewer v. Williams, (1977) based on whether Mr. Williams voluntarily gave up his right to counsel on the trip back to Des Moines, and in Nix v. Williams, (1984) the question was raised on whether evidence discovered should be suppressed during the

Get Access