Suspect to be charged in Christina Williams’ 1998 killing

UPDATE 4/6/17 10:14 p.m.: “Last week we spoke to the Williams family, and it was kind of a heart-felt conversation with the state prosecutor,” said FBI special agent John O’Brien. “Mike Williams stumbled over his words, and I can imagine what that would be being a father myself.”

O’Brien has been examining evidence to crack this cold case for years, he said his team explored every lead it could think of.

“There was actually a weight off my shoulders, you can’t imagine, just to get all that information out and to be able to look at it again,” O’Brien said.

Over the years, the multi-agency investigation yield results.

“Law enforcement doesn’t quit. They don’t quit. They keep digging,” Monterey County district attorney Dean Flippo said.

Investigators found a DNA match that could help the DA’s office build a case against convicted rapist Charles Holifield.

“We will never bring back Christina Williams, but the very least we can do is work very, very hard to try to present the evidence to a jury, and the jury will make that decision,” Flippo said.

13 year-old Christina Williams went to walk her dog near Fort Ord on June 12, 1998 and never returned. Her body was not found until almost seven months later. Her disappearance shook the county and the nation. The FBI offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.

Salinas council woman Kimberly Craig remembered the community was devastated after the disappearance and death of Williams.

“I was a senior in college down in Los Angeles, and our little town was on the L.A. news. It was horrifying, and terrifying,” Craig said.

Williams’ parents have since moved out of the state, but a family member was at Thursday’s press conference, live streaming the announcement for those who live far away.

The community has also been waiting for this day.

“That’s a fantastic feeling for, I think, for a lot of people in this community to finally see some closure there,” Craig said.

Holifield is currently in prison, serving 25 years to life for previous kidnapping and rape convictions. The plan is to bring him back to Monterey County to stand trial.

If convicted, he could face the death penalty or life without parole.

UPDATE 4/6/17 2:54 p.m.: During a press conference Thursday afternoon, the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office announced Charles Holifield will be charged with the murder and kidnapping of Christina Williams in June 1998.

District Attorney Dean Flippo said Holifield is already in prison for sentence of 25 years-to-life for previous convictions.

The DA’s Office expects to file charges against Holifield a week from Friday. Those charges include first degree murder and kidnapping.

Investigators said they were able to build a case against Holifield based on new DNA evidence. He had been named as suspect in her killing about a decade ago.

Holifield is currently being held at Valley State Prison in Chowchilla and is expected to face a judge in Monterey County on those charges.

He could face the death penalty or life in prison if convicted, Flippo said.

PREVIOUS STORY: KION News will bring you the news directly here and on Facebook related to the kidnapping and murder of 13-year-old Christina Williams who was found dead in January 1998 in Fort Ord after going missing several months earlier.

Monterey County District Attorney Dean Flippo will hold the news conference at 2.30pm Thursday afternoon in the Monterey Room on the second floor of the Monterey County Government Center, 168 W. Alisal St., Salinas.

Williams, was kidnapped in Seaside on June 12, 1998, while walking her dog in an area of Fort Ord. The dog later returned to its home, dragging its leash. She was the daughter of a U.S. Navy officer.

The case attracted widespread media attention. Celebrities Clint Eastwood, Reggie Jackson and Mariah Carey made public service announcements for Williams. The City of Marina later erected a memorial in Williams honor at 15520 Imjin Rd, across from Preston Park.