White Supremacist Inmate Was Found Dead

By Bill Johnson Published Nov 18, 2002 05:15 am Updated Jan 31, 2009 05:35 pm

A white supremacist inmate was found dead this morning in the Shasta County Jail in Redding. Police Sergeant Dan Kupsky says Benjamin Williams was discovered dead with cuts to his legs and arms about half past six Sunday morning. An autopsy has been scheduled to determine the cause of death.

Williams was placed in a single cell in a segregated unit of the jail after an attempted escape in June. He and another inmate were accused of attacking a correctional officer during the thwarted escape attempt. In September, Williams and his brother, James Williams, pleaded guilty to federal charges of setting fire to three Sacramento synagogues and an abortion clinic in 1999.

Williams was awaiting trial for the 1999 murder of a gay couple in Shasta County. Both he and his brother had pleaded innocent to murder charges in the case.