William Sapp (born 1965) is an American serial killer currently incarcerated on Florida's death row for the murders of multiple women in Miami-Dade County, Florida, during the late 1980s. His crimes primarily occurred in the rural Redland area, earning him notoriety as a "South Florida serial killer."
Early Life and Background Little public information is extensively detailed regarding Sapp's early life. He was a resident of Miami-Dade County, Florida, at the time of his crimes.
Crimes William Sapp was active between 1988 and 1989. His known victims include:
- Angela Green: A 28-year-old woman found strangled in a remote agricultural field in December 1988.
- Elizabeth Ann Webster: A 29-year-old woman found strangled in a sugarcane field in January 1989.
- Mary Jo Housey: A 28-year-old woman found strangled near a canal in the Redland area in February 1989.
The victims were typically found in isolated, rural parts of Miami-Dade County, often in fields or near canals. All were strangled, and several showed signs of sexual assault, though Sapp was primarily convicted on murder charges. Authorities suspected him in as many as 12 killings, but he was ultimately prosecuted for a smaller number due to the difficulty of linking all cases definitively.
Investigation and Arrest Sapp became a suspect through various investigative means, including witness testimony and forensic evidence. Advances in DNA technology played a crucial role in linking him to some of the crime scenes. He was arrested in 1989.
Trial and Conviction William Sapp was tried and convicted of multiple counts of first-degree murder. The prosecution presented evidence including DNA, fingerprints, and other circumstantial evidence that connected him to the victims. He was sentenced to death for his crimes.
Incarceration As of 2023, William Sapp remains on death row in Florida. He is incarcerated at Florida State Prison in Raiford, Florida, awaiting execution. His appeals have been largely exhausted, but the legal process for death row inmates often spans many years.