Summer of Terror
Summer of 1999. Sacramento, California.
June 18, 1999 - B' Nai Israel
Delvac 1300 Super
White Cotton Strips of Fabric
White and Brown Dog Hairs
June 18, 1999 - Beth Shalom & Kennesset Israel
July 1, 1999 - Gary Matson & Winfred Mauder
July 2, 1999 - Abortion Clinic
July 3, 1999 - Abandoned Car
Break in the Case: Credit Card Fraud
July 7, 1999 - Williams Brothers
Daubert Standard
Daubert Hearing
The attorneys for the defendants made a motion for a Daubert hearing in forensic hair analysis, forensic paint analysis, forensic glass analysis, and forensic fiber analysis. They claimed was present technology had changed significantly over the years and was not universally accepted by the scientific community.
Synagogue B’Nai Israel Evidence
Glass on the black wrecking bar recovered from the Williams’ vehicle was similar in re fractive index to the glass from a broken window at B’Nai Israel. Paint on the broken glass of the window at B’Nai Israel was similar to the wrenching bar paint from the Williams’ vehicle . Oil jugs similar to the Mobil oil jug from Williams’ Palo Cedro residence. Dog hairs and feathers on the mouth of the oil jugs and rags tied to the oil jugs were similar to animals at the Palo Cedro residence. Blue over red paint chips on the mouth of the oil jugs were similar to the paint from the shed at the Palo Cedro residence. Newspaper in the bottom of a crate left at the synagogue arson was from the Redding area. A palm print on one Anti-Jewish flyer left at the synagogues was identified as from (Benjamin) Matson.
Paint Chips with Blue Top Coat
Benjamin Matthew Williams Palm Print
Broken Painted Glass
Hit List
Outcome
Benjamin Williams committed suicide and James Williams pled guilty to murder with life in prison without parole in exchange for the State of California not seeking the death penalty.