Amy Williams, 54, was fatally shot by her ex-stepfather who drove nine hours from his Georgia home to kill her, officials say
An elderly man from rural Georgia drove nine hours to the Florida home of his former stepdaughter and killed himself after fatally shooting her because he blamed her for his divorce, police alleged on Friday.
Edward Douglas Ratcliffe, 73, fired multiple shots at Amy Williams, 54, at her home in Cocoa, Florida, at around 10:47am on Thursday.
Not long after the shooting, first responders rushed Williams to a local hospital, where she died of her wounds, according to Florida Today.
Investigators with the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office said that Ratcliffe left his home in Cherry Log, Georgia early Thursday morning.
He set out for Cocoa, a coastal community about an hour’s drive east of Orlando, ClickOrlando reported.
Law enforcement officials believe Ratcliffe drove to Williams’s home with the intention of killing her.
Edward Douglas Ratcliffe, 73, fired multiple shots at Williams in her home (above) in Cocoa, Florida, at around 10:47am on Thursday
Not long after the shooting, first responders rushed Williams to a local hospital, where she died of her wounds
Ratcliffe blamed Williams for his divorce from her mother, investigators believe
Ratcliffe blamed Williams for his divorce from her mother, investigators believe.
The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, which is located in nearby St. Johns County, received a 911 call from Ratcliffe shortly after he shot Williams.
Ratcliffe admitted to killing Williams and said that he was going to take his own life, investigators said.
Officers rushed to the scene and approached Ratcliffe, who killed himself shortly after they arrived.
The investigation is ongoing.