Winfield father kills wife, four children, then himself

Police had prior contact with suspect in weeks before killings

Winfield Police Chief Robbie Delong told reporters during an evening press conference that dispatch received a phone call at 8:50 a.m. local time from a man, later identified as Ronald Williams Sr., who said he had killed his family and intended to kill himself.

Officers in the area for a traffic accident responded to the residence in the 400 block of West 9th Avenue. As the first-arriving officer approached, a single gunshot was heard inside, Delong said. The officers retreated and erected a perimeter around the residence.

Shortly before 11 a.m., after, as Delong described it, “enough backup had arrived and other methods had been exhausted,” officers breached the front door and called for medical assistance on discovering the suspect and five other individuals dead.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation identified the victims as Kelly George, 44; Carol Williams, 9; Ronald Williams Jr., 7; Sarah Williams, 5; and Kelly Magee-Williams, 3. After the bodies were discovered, the Winfield Police Department asked the bureau for assistance investigating.

“This is in my 20-plus years one of the hardest things I’ve ever seen,” Delong said.

Delong told reporters that police had previous contact with the suspect for erratic behavior, including within the last few weeks, but not anything that “would have indicated that we would be where we are today.”

KBI Special Agent in Charge Jason Diaz said a motive was under investigation. He said the crime scene response team was processing the scene while other agents conducted follow-up interviews with neighbors and contacted known relatives.

“This is a very difficult case for the agents and the crime scene personnel that are working it,” Diaz said.

The incident is the latest familicide, also referred to as a family-annihilation case, to occur in the United States. In July, a family of eight was found dead inside their Michigan home; authorities said the father, 47-year-old Kristopher Karolkiewicz, fatally shot his wife and six children before setting their house on fire and then killing himself.

People struggling with suicidal thoughts can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential support available 24/7.