William L. Chapman
William Chapman, 32, of Volusia County, was held at Florida State Prison in Bradford County when he died in July 2019. According to the state attorney's office, two fellow prisoners stabbed and strangled him in a day room and blocked the door to keep corrections officers from intervening. His sister said he had warned her and prison officials that his life was in danger. Two men were indicted for his murder in November 2019, and one of them, William Edward Wells III, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to death in May 2021. Prosecutors said Chapman was still alive during part of the attack.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by another person in custody. State Attorney Bill Cervone says two fellow inmates stabbed and strangled him in a prison day room.
Reported by: Eighth Circuit State Attorney's Office.
News reports (9)
- Inmate Mortality, fiscal year 2019-2020, archived
- Forest killer, Mayport ‘monster’ indicted for prison murder
- An inmate has been indicted for murder
- Leo Boatman, who killed a couple camping in the Ocala forest, accused of killing again in prison
- The dying man was sent back to his cell. A look at how COVID-19 kills Florida prisoners
- Federal prisons: Two inmates dead in FL as death toll hits 105 around the country
- 3 COVID-19 deaths reported at state prisons in Marion County
- ‘Mayport Monster’ pleads guilty to murdering inmate - FL Times-Union
- 'Mayport Monster' William Wells gets death sentence