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Cindy Lassister Williams’s Family Plans Prayer Vigil on Mother’s Day ( May 14) at 2PM on Capitol Street in Front of the Governor’s Mansion to Protest Release of James Williams III
- In 2001, James Williams III killed his father James Williams Jr. and his stepmother, Cindy Lassiter Mangum Williams. Their bodies were found a week later near Shiloh Park in Brandon, Miss.
- In 2005, James Williams III was convicted of both murders, and he was sentenced to two consecutive life terms with no possibility of parole. A change in the law allows him to be considered for parole.
- On April 15, 2023, Mrs. Williams sister, Brenda Rankin, received a letter from the parole board stating that James Williams III will be released for parole around May 16, 2023. Williams’ family did not receive notification of the parole hearing, therefore no family members appeared before the parole board to protest his release.
- On April 23, 2023, the MS State Parole Board agreed to a conference telephone call with Cindy Williams’ family. During the call, the family again asked if they could have a face-to-face meeting with the board and they were told no. The family raised questions about the notification system used to alert families, the District Attorney’s Office, and the Sheriff’s Office of the parole hearing. They also asked for verification of the advertisement posting of the parole hearing. The response from the parole board was that they would try to get answers to the questions and get back with them. Additionally, the parole board said they would take their concerns under advisement and notify them of their response. No time frame was given for when to expect the answers to their questions and concerns.
- May 3, 2023, the MS State Parole Board sent a letter stating that the community would be better served with James Williams III in the community rather than be incarcerated. They did not answer the family’s questions directly. The family was not present because of lack of notification from the MS State Parole Board about the hearing. This is important to the victim’s family, and they have never failed to appear when notified.
- Join the family of Cindy Lassister Williams on Sunday Afternoon at 2PM in front of the Governor’s Mansion on Capitol Street to have a prayer vigil to honor Cindy Lassister Williams for Mother’s Day and protest the release of James Williams III. The Mississippi State Parole Board has not reversed their decision to release James Williams III that murdered Cindy Williams and her husband James Williams Jr. Zeno Mangum, son of Cindy Williams asks you to “Be the Voice for Cindy Williams as our family asks for Justice for Cindy. It is not fair that James Williams does not have to fulfill the sentence given to him. Our family wants Justice for Cindy.”
If you have any questions, please contact Zeno Mangum at thirdzeno@gmail.com or 601-927-3642. We appreciate any help that you can give our family.
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