More than five decades after the murder of beloved WWII veteran turned Florida milkman Hiram “Ross” Grayam, his killer has finally been identified as Thomas Williams. Grayam failed to return home after delivering milk in April 1968, and his body, along with his milk truck, were found deep in the woods in the Vero Beach region. Williams was a prime suspect in the murder, but witnesses were too afraid to come forward while he was alive. It was confirmed after his death that Williams had confessed to Grayam’s murder, leading to the long-awaited break in the case.
During the investigation into Grayam’s murder, a witness reported seeing him talking to two men before announcing that he would be back shortly. Grayam was finally found dead lying next to his milk truck with bullet wounds, killed execution style. His family, who hadn’t realized anything had happened until a sheriff’s deputy showed up, had been waiting for him at home. The prime suspects in the case, who Grayam had been talking to before his death, had disappeared, leading to the case going cold for over 50 years.
Rumors began in 2006 that Thomas Williams may have been involved in Grayam’s murder, but he denied any knowledge or involvement in the case. The case remained cold until Williams passed away in 2016, prompting his ex-wife and a friend of his sister to come forward with crucial information about the murder. These witnesses, who had been too afraid to speak out while Williams was alive, provided corroborating statements that led to a breakthrough in the case. Detectives have also identified a second suspect, whose name has not been disclosed, involved in the murder.
The Indian River County Sheriff’s Office worked tirelessly to solve Grayam’s murder, utilizing the information provided by witnesses who had been too scared to come forward while the perpetrators were alive. The sheriff explained that the witnesses had been threatened by the suspects and did not feel safe revealing what they knew until the threat was removed by the death of Williams. This newfound courage allowed investigators to finally unmask the killer behind the execution-style murder of Grayam, who was a decorated WWII veteran that had served his country with honor.
The families involved in the case were able to receive closure after over five decades of not knowing who was responsible for Grayam’s murder. The sheriff emphasized the importance of the cooperation of witnesses in solving cold cases, as their new information led to the identification of the killer. While the exact motive for the murder remains unclear, the identification of Thomas Williams as the killer brings some justice to the decades-old case. The Sheriff’s Office expressed gratitude towards the witnesses who came forward and helped solve the case, as well as the determination of the detectives involved in bringing closure to Grayam’s family after so many years.
