Press Release
The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that 76 year old William Hawk was sentenced to 25 years in prison after accepting a plea to two counts of second degree murder and one count of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer. On February 11, 2017, Hawk shot and killed his girlfriend, Mary Reed and her friend, Kassi Henderson at Mrs. Reed’s home in Jackson County. When confronted by arresting deputies from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Hawk refused to drop his handgun and was subsequently shot.
Hawk recovered from his injuries, but was then sent to the Florida State Hospital in Chattahoochee after being found legally incompetent to proceed. On June 5, 2018, Judge Chris Patterson found Hawk restored to competency based on the most recent evaluation from the State Hospital. Hawk acknowledged that by accepting the 25 year offer, it would most likely amount to a life sentence for a man of his age. “I understand that I will die in prison”, Hawk told Judge Patterson. The case was prosecuted by Bob Sombathy, Chief of Major Crimes and the lead investigator was Sgt. Billy Benton of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.
For additional information, contact Chief Assistant Attorney Larry Basford.