Eric Fitzgerald Williams
An April 19 trial date has been set in the "circumstantial" murder case against an Atlanta man.
Defense attorney Bill Speek on Thursday afternoon said the state has no evidence to show that Eric Fitzgerald Williams, 44, killed his associate, Daniel Adams, at the Pinewood Apartments in Brainerd on April 3, 2014.
He noted that blood from Williams and the victim were inside the apartment, but there was also blood from an unidentified third person.
However, prosecutor Lance Pope said the evidence was strong against Williams. He said Adams had given statements implicating both of them in the purchase of 12 pounds of marijuana that was delivered by FedEx to another local residence earlier.
Criminal Court Judge Tom Greenholtz said attorney Speek had made a compelling case, but he kept the bond at $360,000 on the second-degree murder charge. Williams remains charged in the marijuana case.
Detective Matthew Puglise said Adams died of two gunshot wounds to the head. He said one was close up - execution style.
He said there were signs of a struggle inside the apartment that belonged to Adams' girlfriend, Nancy Fortson. There was a shoe print on the wall of the bedroom, a mattress pulled off the bed and pillows strewn about the living room.
The detective said the murder is believed to have happened between midnight and 1 a.m., but the body was not reported until Ms. Fortson came home the next morning. Neighbors reported hearing shots after midnight.
Detective Puglise said video showed a Ford Fusion leaving the apartment complex around the time of the shooting, then Williams showed up at a local hospital driving a Ford Fusion. He had been shot and was treated for a minor injury.
There were two different caliber bullets found at the scene and pulled from the victim's body. No weapons were retrieved.
There was unknown DNA lifted from under the victim's fingernails.
Finger prints belonging to Williams were lifted from a Lysol can in the bathroom.
Police said the marijuana was delivered to a residence that Williams and Adams kept for partying and entertaining women.
Williams left town after the incident and was arrested 11 days later at Mapleton, Ga. He has been in jail since his arrest.
Prosecutor Pope said Williams previously was given a 10-year sentence on a drug case.