The case of the “execution style” murder of WWII veteran turned milkman Hiram “Ross” Grayam in Florida in 1968 has finally been solved after more than 50 years. Grayam failed to return home after delivering milk and was later found dead in the woods with his milk truck. The killer, Thomas Williams, was identified after witnesses who had been too afraid to speak while he was alive came forward with information.
At the time of the murder, a witness reported seeing Grayam talking to two men before he disappeared. Grayam, a decorated WWII veteran who received a Purple Heart, was late coming home, sparking concern from his family. His body was discovered next to his milk truck with gunshot wounds. The two men he had been talking to were prime suspects in the case, but were never found, leading the investigation to go cold for 56 years.
Rumors began circulating in 2006 that Thomas Williams may have been involved in Grayam’s murder. Williams wrote into a local paper denying any involvement, but suspicions persisted. After Williams passed away in 2016, his ex-wife and a friend of his sister came forward with information they had been too afraid to share while Williams was alive. Their statements helped detectives identify Williams as the killer and also led to the identification of a second suspect in the case.
The Indian River County Sheriff’s Office credited the cooperation of witnesses with the breakthrough in the case. Witnesses had been too scared to come forward while Williams was alive, but felt safe to share their information after his death. Sheriff Eric Flowers stated that the witnesses had explained they would never have spoken out while Williams was alive because they were afraid of him and the potential threat he posed to their families. The bravery of these witnesses ultimately led to the identification of the killer in this cold case.
The motive for Grayam’s murder remains unclear, with detectives still working to uncover the reasons behind the killing. Despite the passage of more than five decades, the resolution of this case brings closure to Grayam’s family and the community. The identification of the killer, Thomas Williams, offers a sense of justice for the beloved WWII veteran who was tragically taken from his loved ones. The cooperation of witnesses who came forward with crucial information after all these years highlights the importance of speaking out and sharing knowledge to help solve cold cases and bring closure to families of victims.
