Michael Williams

Terry Rogers holding a photograph of her brother Michael in front of her home in Bridge City, Louisiana on May 17, 2020. Courtesy of Kathleen Flynn, by way of ProPublica.

Michael Williams passed away from COVID-19 on May 9, 2020 at the age of 70. Incarcerated in Louisiana State Penitentiary (Angola), Michael had a close relationship with his sister Terry Rogers, with whom he spoke on the phone every Sunday evening. He is survived by a loving family, including many sisters and a son, Kevin Cooks. Michael will be missed dearly by his family and friends.

Michael’s family described his final days to journalists at ProPublica. When Michael and Terry talked on May 3, she could tell that he sounded strange. The next night, a friend of Michael’s called Terry to tell her that he was sick. Given his symptoms, Michael was put into isolation for multiple days. Yet, when he was on the phone with his son, he told Kevin that he was not being treated. Kevin remembered his dad saying, “Son, I’m going to die in here.” Michael’s family and lawyer, Allyson Billeaud, called the facility repeatedly asking for Michael to be moved to the hospital, but they were told that he did not have COVID-19. By the time that Michael was transferred to a hospital on May 7, he was in critical condition. He tragically lost his life to the virus two days later.

At the time of Michael’s passing, his lawyer was fighting for his innocence. She had strong evidence in the case, including someone else’s confession to the crime, a lead witness proven to be contradictory, and a statement of Michael’s wrongful conviction from the lead detective. Yet, Michael did not live to see his case for innocence through to fruition. 

Photograph of Michael and his two sisters, courtesy of Allyson Billeaud.

According to his lawyer, Michael had a history of stroke and diabetes, and, as a person over 65, he was at a greater risk for severe illness from COVID-19. His family and lawyer fought tirelessly for his release at the beginning of the pandemic, and they deplore the decisions of the Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections that contributed to Michael’s preventable death. 

We mourn the loss of this well-loved man, whose life was tragically cut short on May 9, 2020.

This memorial was written by MOL team member Alie Brussel Faria with information from correspondence with Allyson Billeaud and reporting by Anat Rubin, Tim Golden and Richard A. Webster of ProPublica.