Inside the Greg Williams death investigation
When Michele Williams met her third husband, Greg, it was love at first sight. “Greg treated me like a queen,” Michele tells “48 Hours.” “He took me from day one and put me on an untouchable pedestal. Nobody’s ever treated me that way, he was my knight in shining armor.”
A Bright Future
In 2011, the couple were about to buy a new home, and were designing a swimming pool for their 4-year-old daughter, Makayla.
A Millionaire Murdered
Greg Williams died in the early morning hours of Oct. 13, 2011, in his mansion in Keller, Texas, a wealthy suburb of Fort Worth. Police say he was shot in the right temple and pronounced dead at the scene.
A Bump in the Night
Michele Williams claims she was asleep on the couch in the living room with her daughter, Makayla, when she awoke to a loud noise. She got up to see what woke her when she was knocked out by an intruder, she told police.
An Intruder?
The bruise on her cheek, Michele Williams says, is proof that she was knocked out by an intruder with a wrench, who proceeded to kill her husband, Greg, and escape out the front door.
But when investigators arrive at the Williams’ house, they came across an unusual crime scene. They discovered that Greg’s hands and the gun had been wiped clean of fingerprints. Even more suspicious, there was no DNA evidence at the crime scene.
What Happened to Greg Williams?
Just hours after Greg Williams’ shooting death, his wife, Michele, was brought to the Keller Police Department for questioning. Police told her the story of an intruder wasn’t consistent with the lack of evidence at the crime scene.
Police Sgt. John McGrew turns up the heat on Michele and asks her what really happened to Greg.
Michele Williams' Changing Stories
Finally after Sgt. McGrew asks her for the eighth time, Michele breaks and changes her story. She now claims that Greg committed suicide and she covered it up to make it look like an intruder so their young daughter wouldn’t know that her dad killed himself.
Michele Williams Arrested
But the medical examiner’s report ruled Greg’s death a homicide, saying it was impossible for him to fire the gun and kill himself. Nearly three months after her husband’s death, Michele is arrested for the murder of Greg Williams ... but gets out of jail on bond a week later.
Bond Behavior
While out on bond, court documents show Michele Williams allegedly tampered with her ankle monitor and worked at a strip club. She started dating Gene Wallis, a much younger man.
Wallis is a former body builder and personal trainer, and also her son Lee’s best friend ... until he started to date his mom.
Bond Behavior
Gene Wallis, seen in the background, and Michele opened their own fitness business together and while Michele was out on bond for the murder of her husband, the couple even appeared in a video promoting their business for the Fort Worth Star Telegram.
Michele Williams Sons
Lee O’Brien, left, and his younger brother, Andrew, say their mother was never there for them growing up. They were constantly moved around to different motels and trailers as they say Michele found new men in her life. Her children were never a priority for her, her sons say.
Video: Sons say Michele Williams had a history of deceit
Watch now: Temptation in Texas
https://www.cbsnews.com/videos/murder-suspect-michele-williams-has-history-of-deceit-say-sons/
A Motive for Murder?
In “48 Hours”’ interview with Michele Williams’ nephews, Trayce and Tyler, they revealed that Michele joked about killing Greg and moving to Mexico with his insurance money. Two days later, Greg was dead.
Watch now: Temptation in Texas
An Unexpected Twist
With a lack of physical evidence prosecutors say was destroyed by Michele, they offer her a plea deal which she agrees to. She will plead guilty to a charge of deadly conduct and tampering with evidence and serve 18 years in prison.
But an unexpected twist keeps her out of jail. She and Gene Wallis announce they are expecting twins. But Wallis says Michele suffered a miscarriage and when Judge Wisch learns that news, he hauls her back to court.
Changing Her Story … Again
In an exclusive jailhouse interview with “48 Hours” while awaiting sentencing on the plea deal, Michele Williams contradicts herself by saying that she is innocent of all charges. Michele tells correspondent Peter Van Sant she took the plea deal hoping for a short sentence, so she could be reunited with her daughter, Makayla. Once the judge hears this he orders a hearing.
Bombshell Hearing
Michele Williams tells the court that she is innocent of all charges that she previously pleaded guilty to. With that, the judge reinstates the murder charge and orders her to remain in jail. She was tried by a jury in September 2014 for the murder of her husband, Greg.
The Verdict
Michele Williams never takes the stand to explain her many-changing stories. And that makes her defense an uphill battle. Prosecutors show the jury excerpts from the “48 Hours” episode that aired in April 2014, the interview that turned Michele’s life -- and this case -- upside down.
Michele was found guilty of murder and sentenced to 60 years in prison. She will be eligible for parole in 30 years at age 74.