SAVE James McWilliams in Alabama
(RESENTENCED TO LIFE - 2021) 

Who is James McWilliams?

James McWilliams has spent 26 years on death row in Alabama for a crime in which he has always maintained his innocence. He is the son of a US officer who served in the US army in Germany - he has spent many years of his childhood in Europe, and feels very European.
He has a lovely daughter, Jessica, who would be devastated if her father was ever executed. 


James' father, an officer of the US army, has brought up his son on a US air base in Germany.
James and his daughter Jessica

James and his family


Case summary 

On the night of December 30, 1984, between the hours of 09:45 p.m. and 10:15 p.m., one man (or more) entered Austin's Foodstore located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama - Once inside, Ms. Patricia Reynolds the cashier was robbed, raped and shot five (5) times.
Less than forty-eight (48) hours after Ms. Reynolds was discovered, McWilliams was arrested in the state of Ohio, on unrelated charges. McWilliams was subsequently charged, tried, convicted and sentenced to death for the robbery, rape and murder of Ms. Reynolds.

James McWilliams has been fighting for his life for 26 years. Complete details of the case of James McWilliams can be found on his personal website, explaining he was convicted on the basis of faulty eye witness misidentification.

James McWilliams
Description given: Black, male, 26-28 years old, light complexion, 5'7 5'11,150 - 170 lbs, Medium Afro with Kaki pants.
                Line up for identification - James is number 4.
See other cases of prisoners on death row, later exonerated,
convicted because of eyewitness misidentifications - see here
See a great CBS program about a woman who had misidentified a man later proved to be innocent - she has apologised since - see here
What James says
I am determined to prove my innocence. With the support of people who believe in justice,
as well as those opposed to capital punishment in principle, my family and my friends, I will eventually win this struggle.
For the first time, I now have attorneys who are willing to assist me in proving my innocence, but even with that I still need help. My case is now in Federal Court and this is my one last chance to present the evidence and testimony to prove I am not guilty. 


WATCH a testimonial from Laurent, his French pen pal since 2001: "If he were executed, it would be like loosing my brother"

How you can help save the life of James McWilliams

For any further information, please contact LUTTE POUR LA JUSTICE, a French association part of the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty, that officially represents him. Or go to the official Lutte Pour la Justice website (in French only)

You can make a donation for James McWilliams on the Lutte Pour la Justice website or by clicking on their Paypal button below (connected to their account)
To write James McWilliams

(Please do not forget to put your name and address at the back of the envelope)

James McWilliams
Z-467.  F_16
Holman 3700
Atmore, Alabama
36503