Abingdon man gets life in prison for killing his wife. He is also being charged in rape and murder cases from the 1980s

A 67-year-old Abingdon man was sentenced to life in prison plus 19 years Friday for shooting and killing his wife at their home in 2025.

What happened: Judge Alex Allman sentenced David Williams in the Circuit Court for Harford County for the June 30, 2025 shooting death of Lillian Williams. A jury convicted him in April on five counts: first-degree murder, using a firearm during a violent crime, having a firearm as a prohibited person, having ammunition as a prohibited person, and tampering with evidence.

What we know: Prosecutors said Williams shot his wife, left her body in the home, drove away with the gun, and threw it in a wooded area before returning about an hour later to call 911. He told dispatchers he knew nothing about the shooting. He later told investigators the gun went off during a struggle after his wife pulled it out. He also called a friend out of state and said he had been in a fight with a man that ended in the man’s death.

A Ring doorbell camera showed Williams kicking in the front door to re-enter the home, then walking in and out calmly in the minutes after the shooting. The medical examiner ruled Lillian Williams’ death a homicide and testified the gun was fired from about one to three feet away, and that the physical evidence did not support Williams’ account of a struggle.

What the judge said: According to the Harford County State’s Attorney’s Office, Judge Allman said he believed Williams showed no remorse and that he saw no hope for rehabilitation. The judge said his sentence was focused on punishment and deterrence.

What else prosecutors raised: Assistant State’s Attorney Jason Allen asked for the maximum sentence of life plus 29 years. Allen told the court Williams is expected to face charges in connection with a 1986 homicide in Baltimore City. Allen also told the court a DNA match has linked Williams to a 1985 rape in Baltimore County.

The path forward: Williams will serve his sentence at a state correctional facility. The expected Baltimore City charges have not yet been filed, according to the State’s Attorney’s Office.