William Wilson III Nearly Walked Free, Autopsy Exposes Father’s Homicide in Niagara Falls

Niagara Action
33 minutes ago
2 min read

A Niagara Falls resident has been indicted on manslaughter charges in the death of his father following what police say was a suspicious turn in the case. The death was initially believed to be due to natural causes.

William Wilson III, 37, is accused of killing his father, William Wilson Sr., and now faces one count of 1st degree and 2nd degree manslaughter. He pleaded not guilty during his arraignment in Niagara County Court on Thursday afternoon and was ordered held without bail while the case moves forward.

Wilson Sr., a retired Niagara Falls Department of Public Works employee, was widely known for his role in the early 2000s protests over discrimination and unsafe labor conditions inside DPW.

Police first responded to Wilson Sr.’s home on August 17th after receiving a report of an unattended death. Officers located him inside the residence and initially reported seeing no indication of foul play. The case was handled as a natural death and the body was taken to a funeral home.

Days later, Niagara Falls Police detectives received information suggesting the death may not have been natural after all. Investigators immediately recovered the body for an autopsy.

The Erie County Medical Examiner later determined that Wilson Sr. had been the victim of a homicide. On August 22nd, members of the department’s Criminal Investigation Division and Crime Scene Unit returned to the residence with a search warrant removing several bags of evidence from the home.

Detectives arrested Wilson III on Wednesday and took him into custody without incident.

Wilson III remains in custody at the Niagara County Jail.