Killer of decorated WWII veteran identified after 56 years

The killer of a decorated World War II veteran who was murdered while on his milk delivery route 56 years ago in Indian River County, Florida has now been identified.

The Indian River County Sheriff’s Office identified Thomas J. Williams as Hiram “Ross” Grayam’s killer in an April 12 statement.

According to the statement, Graham set out on his milk route on April 11, 1968, but did not return home as expected.

“As dusk settled, a concern grew when Grayam failed to return home after work, the IRCSO launching a search that would unveil a chilling scene,” the statement read. “Deep in the woods, Grayam’s body and truck were located. Grayam had been shot several times. Despite exhaustive efforts, his killer eluded justice.”

Grayam's son, Larry, was 16 at the time of his father’s murder.

“We didn’t realize anything had happened, except my father was a little late in coming home, and then a sheriff’s deputy, an investigator showed up,” Larry Grayam, the victim’s son, told CBS12.

During a press conference on April 12, Indian River County Sheriff Eric Flowers said a witness told deputies she saw Grayam talking to two men who were walking on the side of the road, CBS12 reported.

“She said that Mr. Grayam engaged them in conversation, and announced that he would be back shortly," Flowers said. "All three, the two black males and Mr. Grayam, left in his truck.”

Graham’s body was located the next day, Flowers said.

“When they arrived at the initial scene, Mr. Grayam was laying next to the milk truck with bullet wounds, killed execution style,” he said.

The case went cold until 2006 when Larry Grayam did an interview with local media which his father’s killer saw, CBS12 reported.

"Thomas Williams wrote a letter to the editor of the newspaper after he saw the coverage that was happening, saying that he had been accused of the murder, but he denied having knowledge of it, that he wasn’t involved in it,” Flowers said.

The case went cold again and Williams died in 2016. Then, over the last two years, his ex-wife and a friend of his sister came forward, according to CBS12.

“These folks said I would have never said anything to you before, as long as he was alive, he was a threat to me and my family, we would have never told you, but the fact that he is now dead gave them the courage to come forward," Flowers said. "Two independent witnesses, who both say this guy confessed to killing the milkman to them, independent of each other, (they) don’t know each other.”

Investigators believe they have an idea of who the second man who participated in the killing was and are asking local residents who may know something to call them or Crime Stoppers.

Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com .