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Man arraigned on kidnapping, hiding a corpse charges

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Raymond Williams

JANESVILLE — A Rockford, Ill., man accused of killing his ex-girlfriend's lover and dumping his body in Janesville pleaded not guilty Thursday to felony charges of kidnapping and hiding a corpse.

Raymond C. Williams, 39, appeared in Rock County Court for an arraignment.

His attorney, Joshua Klaff, demanded a speedy trial.

Williams is suspected of killing Travel Hester, 27, in March 2007 in Rockford and forcing a woman to help him dispose of the body in Riverside Park in Janesville.

He was acquitted of homicide in Winnebago County, Ill.

Williams fatally beat Hester in his ex-girlfriend’s Rockford home, the woman testified during the preliminary hearing in Rock County Court.

After the woman and Hester fell asleep, Williams entered her home and attacked them, killing Hester, she said.

Williams made the woman help clean up blood and place Hester’s body in a vehicle’s trunk, the woman said.

The two drove around Rockford with the body but returned to the woman’s home after it became light, she said.

Williams then had sex with her, the woman said.

The woman continued with her day, taking her child to daycare and spending time with her mom, she said.

The woman couldn’t remember whether she worked that day, she said.

She never reported the murder to police or her mom, even though she was away from Williams, the woman said.

The next night, Williams forced her to drive with him to Janesville, where they disposed of the body in Riverside Park, the woman said.

The body was found March 13, 2007, and Rockford police arrested Williams two days after its discovery.

If convicted, Williams faces up to 50 years in prison on the Rock County charges.

Williams remains in the Rock County Jail on $30,000 cash bond.

He is expected to stand trial Oct. 5.