The not guilty by reason if insanity ruling in the Fred Williams murder trial has a direct impact on the victims' extended family: fellow firefighters and sheriff's deputies.
Police say, after killing his wife, Stacey, and setting his more on fire, Williams killed firefighters Javier Lerma, William Blakemore and Sheriff's Deputy Rupert Peete, Jr. during a shooting rampage in March of 2000.
After the gavel dropped in Shelby County Criminal Court Monday, some firefighters expressed their sadness with the system. "They feel let down by the justice system," said Memphis Fire Association President Terry Oldham. As upholders of the law, sheriff's deputies have mixed reaction.
"The judge has made a decision. We have to respect that decision. Right now, our thoughts are with the Peete family and the firefighters' family," said Shelby County Sheriff's Association President, John Kramer.
However, Oldham and Kramer use the same words to describe emotions among the ranks.
"Today's decision not only disturbed me, it's disappointing," said Kramer.
"I've had some phone calls from personnel and people are disappointed, They're upset," said Oldham.
Kramer has one big concern.
"It's up to the courts. Hopefully, he'll never be released from the mental institution," he worried.
For now, Lerma, Blakemore and Peete are heavy on the hearts of all of their comrades in service.
Judge Arthur Bennett calls it the hardest decision he's made in 30 years on the bench.
"And finds the defendant , Fred Williams, is not guilty," the judge read during court.
His decision was hard for family members of the victims to hear.
"All this for nothing!" said one victim's son.
"Where's my justice man?" asked another immediately following the decision.
They still live with events of March 8th, 2000. That's the day investigators say Fred Williams killed his wife, set fire to his home and fatally shot two firefighters and a sheriff's deputy.
"We lost our loved one we can never get back, my father's gone, for no reason," says William Blakemore Jr.
But even his defense team concedes--Williams will likely never be free due to his mental condition.
"If he doesn't improve, odds are he'll stay in a mental hospital the rest of his life," says attorney Gerald Skahan.
"If they ever say he's no longer dangerous, we'll have a hearing because that's going to be difficult to believe," says prosecutor Tom Henderson.
Family members say they want more than a "maybe."
"They believe--if they can guarantee--we don't know--all we know is we done lost," says Blakemore.
Lost loved ones...and now they say some faith in the justice system.
Fred Williams will now undergo a mandatory mental evaluation. He will remain in a state hospital if found to be mentally ill and dangerous. That's something both sides in this case fully expect.
