Man Shoots Ex-Wife & Her Son During Argument Over Electric Bill

Florida officials reported a domestic dispute turned into a murder after an argument over an electric bill.

Marsha Ebanks-Williams, 48, and her son, Robert Adams, 28, were found dead Sunday evening in a DeLand home.

A statement from the Volusia Sheriff’s Office states, “Michael D. Williams, 47, called 911 at approximately 8 p.m. on Sunday, stating he’d just shot his ex-wife and her son in self-defense. On arrival, deputies contacted Williams, who was sitting in a vehicle parked in the driveway. He surrendered and was taken into custody without incident. Deputies entered the home and found both victims.”

Adam’s two young children, ages 5 and 6-years old, were also present in the home at the time of the shootings. Police say it is possible that the small children witnessed the altercation.

“Detectives determined the defendant and his ex-wife had been involved in an ongoing dispute over domestic issues including electrical power to the house, where they were both still living following their divorce in June after 10 years of marriage,” the statement explains.

Both Williams and Ebanks-Williams had called 911 on several occasions “over the past several months to document verbal arguments about the property and living arrangements,” reads the statement, adding “There were no allegations of domestic violence or any threats of violence.”

Williams explained to police that he had shut off power to the house, locked the electrical panel, and left. When he returned to the home, he found the lock had been cut and replaced, causing the power to be restored in the house.

That incited the argument to occur between him and his ex-wife with her son being present.

Williams claimed that the two attacked him and held him down while he was repeatedly punched in the face during the argument.

However, officers noted that Williams did not appear to have any signs of injuries, other than a few superficial scratches.

Williams is being held without bond after being charged with two counts of first-degree murder. He has not entered pleas to those charges yet.

“Williams’ criminal history includes arrests several years ago in another jurisdiction for domestic battery, child abuse, and battery on a law enforcement officer, but he was not convicted of any of those charges,” the statement concludes.