A Florida man is accused of fatally shooting his ex-wife and son Sunday in an argument over electricity. Michael Williams, 47, became enraged after discovering that Marsha Ebanks-Williams, 48, and her son, Robert Adams, 28, had broken the lock he had installed on the electrical cabinet to prevent them from running up a high electricity bill. “Michael was upset that he felt they were leaving the lights on in the house and he went and put a lock on the closet outside the house, which Marsha and her son broke,” Chief Deputy Brian Henderson said at the news conference Monday.
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“He got upset and that started this argument that ultimately resulted in these two people being shot and killed,” Henderson continued. Adams’ children, ages 5 and 6, were home at the time. “You have a 5- and 6-year-old boy who probably witnessed his father’s murder,” added the chief deputy. “It was a senseless murder that should not have happened,” Ha said. The exes lived together in a house in Deland, Florida – about 40 miles north of Orlando – after they divorced. They planned to sell the property and split the proceeds. Williams called 911 after the shooting and told investigators he used the gun to defend himself after his ex-wife and stepson violently attacked him.
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“I’ll let the picture speak for itself,” Henderson said, holding up the arrest photo, which showed Williams’ unblemished face. “I don’t see anything on this guy,” he said. The only weapon found in the home was Williams’ gun. Williams and his ex-wife were married for 10 years and had no children together. In the past year, the police responded to five domestic disputes at their home, but there were no allegations of violence. Williams’ criminal record includes charges of child abuse, domestic violence and battery on a law enforcement officer.