EVERETT — An Arlington man on Thursday admitted to planning and carrying out a brutal attack that took the life of a 73-year-old Marysville woman.
Paul Williams faces more than two decades behind bars for the June 2 death of Shirley Freeman. Williams, 34, pleaded guilty Thursday to first-degree murder with a deadly weapon. He is scheduled to be sentenced in July.
Williams had no criminal history prior to Thursday’s conviction. He has lived for years with mental illness and was being treated for bipolar disorder, according to court papers. Williams said he had thoughts that he had to kill Freeman or face eternity in hell, according to court records.
State doctors determined that Williams was able to assist in his own defense and found him competent to stand trial.
Superior Court Judge Larry McKeeman on Thursday asked Williams if he understood that he could pursue an insanity defense if he proceeded to trial.
His attorney Neal Friedman told the judge he discussed that option with his client but “this is what Mr. Williams wants to do.”
Freeman lived next door to Williams’ parents. The day before her death the police were called after Freeman and Williams’ mother got into a dispute about barking dogs, Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Craig Matheson wrote.
The officer talked to both women and told them to work things out. Williams was there during the argument but wasn’t involved in the discussions with his mother and Freeman, according to court documents. Williams’ mother told her son the argument didn’t concern him and he should stay out of it, Matheson wrote.
Williams told police he had thoughts of killing Freeman for a couple of days, came up with a plan and acted on it, court papers said.
Williams told detectives he went to Freeman’s home June 1 and watched television with her. He returned to his parents’ home the following morning, had coffee with his mother, took a knife from the kitchen and went to Freeman’s house and attacked her, Matheson wrote.
He drove to his apartment, cleaned up and returned to his parents’ home, where he told his mother that he’d killed her neighbor.
Williams was sobbing when he surrendered to police.
Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com.
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