Denise Williams booked into jail in murder of her husband Mike Williams

7:03 p.m. Tuesday update

Denise Williams has been booked into the Leon County jail on charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and accessory after the fact in the killing of her late husband, Mike Williams, who disappeared mysteriously more than 17 years ago.

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5:15 p.m. update

Clay Ketcham, who was a close friend of Mike Williams and his boss at Ketcham Realty Group, was astonished by the news of Denise Williams’ arrest today.

“Oh my gosh,” he said when contacted by a reporter. “Oh my gosh.”

Ketcham said he never thought this day would arrive.

“We are getting to the end of the story,” he said. “It’s horrible. But it’s a feeling of coming to resolution with it.”

Ketcham said he wants “anyone who had any part of this to be fully accountable.”

“I’m thrilled,” he said. “I’m ecstatic. I just can’t believe it.”

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4:57 p.m. update

Officers who arrested Denise Williams this afternoon at her office at Florida State University said she was taken into custody without incident.

The officers said she was working at her desk when they arrived and said nothing as she was handcuffed and taken to a waiting FSU police vehicle.

Williams worked as an accountant and tax specialist at FSU's Controllers Office. A number of her co-workers declined to speak with a Democrat reporter after her arrest.

Earlier this afternoon, a local grand jury indicted her on a charge of first-degree murder in the killing of her husband, Mike Williams. He went missing on Lake Seminole in Jackson County in 2000 and was initially thought to have drowned. However, after getting new information, investigators discovered his body in October 2017.

4:41 p.m. update

Brian Winchester’s attorney, Tim Jansen of Tallahassee, said he can’t comment on the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s investigation into the killing of Mike Williams.

“However, if he is subpoenaed and compelled to testify with immunity, he will testify truthfully at any and all proceedings,” said Jansen, who added he doesn’t believe Winchester will be charged in Williams’ death.

Five years after Williams went missing — and more than a decade before his body was found — Winchester married his widow, Denise Williams. In the midst of their divorce in 2016, Brian held Denise at gunpoint, desperate over the possibility she might tell investigators what actually happened to Mike. Brian was later sentenced to 20 years in prison for the kidnapping of his estranged wife.

A day after Winchester was sentenced, FDLE announced Mike hadn’t gone missing but in fact had been murdered. The agency didn’t name a suspect at the time.

Jansen said Brian will cooperate with law enforcement “to the extent we are able.” He added that at an appropriate time, Brian may make a comment on the case.

4:34 p.m. update

Mark Perez, FDLE special agent in charge, thanked investigators for their work in solving the nearly 18-year-old case. His comments came outside the University Center at Florida State University, where Denise Williams worked as an accountant.

“I want to commend the investigators for their unwavering dedication. We’ve had this case for 15 years, and the relentless effort in working with prosecutors and then ultimately the grand jury in bringing those responsible for Mike Williams’ (death) to justice is a great reward. Hopefully, this will bring peace and resolution to the Williams family.”

Check back with Tallahassee.com for updates.

4:26 p.m. update

After her arrest, Denise Williams was led out of her office by plainclothes FDLE officers and a uniformed Florida State University police officer.

Officers arrived at her campus office just before 4 p.m., and she was in custody within 10 minutes.

She’s on her way to be booked into the Leon County Detention Center. Her first appearance is set for Wednesday morning.

A Tallahassee Democrat reporter asked her several questions as she was being escorted to an FSU police vehicle. The reporter asked specifically whether she killed Mike Williams or whether she and her ex-husband, Brian Winchester, planned to kill him. The reporter also asked whether she had anything to say, including anything to Williams’ mom, Cheryl Williams.

Denise Williams was silent in response to the questions.

RELATED: Mike Williams not the only enduring Tallahassee mystery

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4:12 p.m. update

The widow of Mike Williams – the Tallahassee real estate appraiser who went missing under mysterious circumstances more than 17 years ago – was arrested today, accused of his murder.

Denise Merrell Williams, 48, was led out of her accounting office at Doak Campbell Stadium in handcuffs mere moments after a Leon County grand jury indicted her on a charge of first-degree murder.

It was the biggest bombshell yet in the disappearance of Williams, an affable 31-year-old father who never returned home after supposedly going duck hunting alone the morning of Dec. 16, 2000, on Lake Seminole in Jackson County. After an exhaustive search of the lake, his body was not found.

Just six months later Denise Williams had him declared dead, allowing her to collect life insurance totaling more than $2 million. She later married his best friend, Brian Winchester, who sold Mike one of the policies six months before he went missing.

It was a cold case until five months ago, when the Florida Department of Law Enforcement announced a major breakthrough – the discovery of Mike Williams body. Investigators said he hadn’t drowned or been eaten by alligators, early theories of what happened to him. He’d been murdered. But they wouldn’t say who killed him.

Denise Williams and Winchester’s marriage began to unravel and by 2016 she filed for divorce. In August of that year, he kidnapped her at gun point out of fear she would tell police what really happened to Mike, court records indicate. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison for the kidnapping the day before FDLE announced Mike was murdered.

Check back with Tallahassee.com for more.

MIKE WILLIAMS MYSTERY:

Break in Mike Williams' case blows open new door

Mike Williams' remains found in northern Leon County

Mike Williams' body found 17 years later; FDLE says he was murdered

Closure for Mike Williams' mother and brother is still to come

Court records: Fears over Mike Williams case drove 2016 kidnapping by Brian Winchester

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