Lowndes County residents react to mistrial in William Chase Johnson case
Many residents in Lowndes County where Sheriff “Big John” Williams lived and worked were emotional after today’s mistrial in Macon County. The jury in the capitol murder trial of William Chase Johnson failed to reach a verdict, forcing Judge Bert Rice to declare a mistrial.
Action 8 News talked to more than a dozen people in the grocery store, at the pharmacy, and at the QV gas station in Hayneville where Sheriff Williams was killed. Many people were in disbelief that the jury wasn’t able to make a decision in this case. The courthouse that is named after Sheriff “Big John” Williams closed early today to honor his memory. It is just across the street from the QV as station were he was killed in November 2019.
Numerous people in the community told us stories and fond memories about growing up with Sheriff “Big John” Williams. Others told us how he had helped them, or their family members, throughout the years as part of his job. One word that kept coming up over and over – fair. People told us that Big John was fair to everyone he dealt with, and fairness is something people voiced frustration about today. They don’t believe that the mistrial is fair, and they’re afraid that there will never be justice in the case.
Benita Smith worked at the QV gas station, and she was there the night Sheriff Williams was killed. She is dismayed by the mistrial.
“I feel like it was wrong. He (Johnson) took a life, whether he knew it was the sheriff or not, he still took a human life. I think he should’ve been found guilty. He’s just in jail, but he’s not getting any prison time, so I feel like in a year they’re going to say ‘time is served’ and that’s just my opinion. I used to work at QV, and I was there the night it happened, but I was working in the kitchen so I didn’t see anything but it was hard. And I think it was really hard on his family,” said Smith.
Mary Harrison is a Hayneville resident, and she is also upset about the mistrial.
“I think that justice was not served. I think it was wrong. Everybody around him in Hayneville, not only in Hayneville but in Lowndes County, knew Big John real well. He was a real popular person being a sheriff and a chief of police. Everybody knew him. I can’t think of anyone who didn’t know him. Everybody in the county knew Big John, and I think this young man knew him also. The way the system is these days, you know, some people get away with some things and some people don’t. It’s going to take the good Lord, I believe, to just step up and handle a lot of things. That’s just the way that this has to be done. We’ve got to put it all in God’s hands,” said Harrison.
Officials say it will be either April or October of 2025 before Johnson is tried again. He will remain in custody until then. To learn more about the case, click here.
