Details Emerge in Powell Homicide

New details have come to light in the domestic homicide that occurred over the weekend in Powell.
According to court documents filed Monday, David Williamson told the investigators that his 65-year-old wife’s mental state had been deteriorating and that, early Saturday morning, Shirley Williamson had pointed an unloaded gun at him, pulled the trigger and then yelled for him to kill her. David Williamson told law enforcement that he then fatally shot her in the head with his own gun.
According to the investigating officers, Shirley had been experiencing mental health issues which were becoming worse in recent weeks. Sheriff’s Investigator Phil Johnson reported that David told him his wife was, quote, “in a better place now,” endquote, and that her death was instant. He told Johnson that he had not planned to kill his wife, and then started to cry, according to the affidavit.
The Park County Attorney’s Office has charged Williamson with second-degree murder — alleging he killed Shirley Williamson “purposely and maliciously, but without premeditation.”
Williamson’s bond was set at $700,000 at his arraignment yesterday. A conviction for second-degree murder carries a sentence of 20 years to life in prison.