Man charged in murder of an Alabama mother, pregnant teen and 12-year-old boy – all found bound with zip-ties

A man who authorities say was close to an Alabama family is facing multiple counts of capital murder after investigators say he slaughtered a woman, her two children, and her unborn grandchild.

William Graham Oliver, 54, was arrested Tuesday, more than a week after 46-year-old Lisa Fields, her 17-year-old daughter Keziah Luker, and 12-year-old Thomas Cordelle Jr. were found dead and bound with zip ties inside their Wilmer, Alabama, home on April 20.

Luker, who was eight months pregnant, also had an 18-month-old daughter who was inside the house at the time of the murders, but was not harmed, authorities said.

Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch said the victims, who were each found in a different room of the home, had their hands bound behind their backs with zip ties. He said Fields was stabbed and had her throat cut, Luker was shot, and Thomas’ throat was cut, which nearly decapitated him.

Investigators believe Oliver had been searching for something at the home around 7:30 p.m. the night before the bodies were discovered. Burch said they know what Oliver was allegedly searching for that night and his motive but have not released those details.

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“He was at the home, 7:30-ish Sunday night. Very, very tight timeline.” Burch said. “Very solid circumstantial evidence at this point, and we feel confident that we have the right man.”

During a press conference Tuesday, Burch said Oliver knew the family and lived just several miles away during a press conference.

“At this point we believe he’s solely responsible for the murders,” Burch said.

The bodies were found on April 20 after Luker’s boyfriend, who was at work, noticed unusual activity on her phone around 2:30 a.m. through the Life360 app and feared something was wrong, Burch said. The boyfriend contacted a relative, who went to the home and discovered the horrific scene.

An arrest was made a week later after sheriff's deputies after executed a search warrant at Oliver's home in Wilmer, about 11 miles from the crime scene. He was arrested during a traffic stop near his home as SWAT officers searched his home for evidence.

Despite a criminal history dating back to 1990, including a 2020 theft charge, Burch said Oliver had no prior violent offenses.

“Well, you know, unless you live with someone, a long time you never know what you’re capable of doing or what their motivations are,” Burch said. “And it is a shocking crime for anyone, especially if it’s someone you know.”

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Family members say the brutal violence and the loss of their loved ones is impossible to comprehend.

“I can’t imagine who would want to hurt my sister,” Katherine Ayer, Fields’ sister, told AL.com. “It takes a very, very sick individual to look two children in the face and take their lives.”

She described Fields as kind and devoted, Luker as “a good little mama,” and Thomas as energetic and sweet.

A GoFundMe was created to help the family with funeral expenses.

Though there were four victims, including Luker’s unborn baby, prosecutors filed eight capital murder charges tied to the killings and related alleged crimes.

The charges include one count of capital murder of two or more persons, four counts of capital murder during a burglary, two counts of capital murder of a child younger than 14, and one count of capital murder in the presence of a child.

“Anytime there are children involved, it makes it a little tougher, especially an unborn child,” Burch said. “But again, he will – he’ll face justice, but he’ll ultimately face the ultimate justice on Judgment Day.”