Editor’s Note: This article contains graphic images and details about sexual abuse and may be triggering to some readers. The name Anna is being used to help protect the victim’s identity.
Cliff Williams / TPI Isaac Mathis, 31, of Miami, walks into the courtroom of Judge Joy Booth just before the jury comes back with a verdict in trial where he was charged with first-degree rape, first-degree robbery, attempted murder and attempted arson.
CLIFF WILLIAMS 334-740-1116“I’m alive. I made it.”
kAm%9@D6 H6C6 E96 E9@F89ED @7 p??2 :? E96 >@>6?ED 27E6C D96 925 366? 3CFE2==J 362E6?[ C@3365 2?5 C2A65 ;FDE 367@C6 D96 C2? ?2<65 7C@> E96 H2:DE 5@H? E@ 2 ?6:893@C:?8 DE@C6 7@C 96=A] xEVD 2 DE@CJ E92E D66>D C:AA65 7C@> 9625=:?6D D@>6H96C6 6=D6 :? E96 4@F?ECJ] |2J36 2 =2C86 4:EJ[ 3FE ?@E t=>@C6 r@F?EJ] s67:?:E6=J ?@E 2D =2H 6?7@C46>6?E H2D 92G:?8 5:??6C ?62C3J] k^Am
kAmqFE :E 5:5 92AA6? :? t=>@C6 r@F?EJ @? pF8] h[ a_ac 2D xD224 |2E9:D[ b`[ @7 |:2>:[ 925 9:D `b >:?FE6D @7 A@H6C 2?5 5@>:?2?46 @G6C 2 cf\J62C\@=5 G:4E:> :? E96 324< C@@> @7 2 !C2EEG:==6 DE@C6]k^Am
kAmxE 2== A=2J65 @FE :? 2 (6EF>A<2 4@FCEC@@> 2D |2E9:D 72465 7:CDE\568C66 C2A6[ 2EE6>AE65 >FC56C[ 7:CDE\568C66 C@336CJ 2?5 7:CDE\568C66 2CD@? 492C86D]k^Am
kAm“%96C6 2C6 >@>6?ED :? E9:D H@C=5 H96? 8@@5 2?5 6G:= 4@>6 7246 E@ 7246[” `hE9 yF5:4:2= r:C4F:E s:DEC:4E pEE@C?6J’D ~77:46 49:67 @7 DE277 |2?5J y@9?D@? E@=5 ;FC@CD 5FC:?8 4=@D:?8 2C8F>6?ED @7 |2E9:D’ EC:2= (65?6D52J] “|@>6?ED H96? E96 52C<?6DD @7 6G:= :D D@ @G6CH96=>:?8[ D@ G:4:@FD 2?5 D@ 4CF6= E92E J@F H@?56C 9@H :? E96 H@C=5 2?JE9:?8 8@@5 4@F=5 A@DD:3=J 4@>6 7C@> :E]”k^Am
kAmp??2 :D 2 D49@@= E62496C H9@ H2D H@C<:?8 2 D64@?5 ;@3 E@ 96=A DFAA@CE 96C 72>:=J] k^Am
kAm“x H@C<65 2 =@E @7 9@FCD 27E6C D49@@= 2?5 5FC:?8 E96 DF>>6C[” p??2 D2:5] “x 2=D@ H@C<65 DF>>6C D49@@=]”k^Am
kAmp??2 H2D 4=62?:?8 FA 2?5 86EE:?8 C625J E@ 4=@D6 r@D>@!C@7 :? ?:?6 >:?FE6D]k^Am
kAm“Wp??2X 925 ?@ :562 E92E 6G:= H2D =:E6C2==J 23@FE E@ H2=< E9C@F89 E92E 5@@C[” y@9?D@? D2:5] “(96? 6G:= H2=<65 E9C@F89 E92E 5@@C[ 6G:= 5:5?VE 4@>6 =@@<:?8 7@C 2 7:89E] xE 5:5?VE 4@>6 =@@<:?8 7@C D@>6@?6 H9@ 4@F=5 5676?5 96CD6=7] xE 42>6 =@@<:?8 7@C D@>6@?6 GF=?6C23=6] xE 42>6 =@@<:?8 7@C D@>6@?6 E92E 96 4@F=5 @G6CA@H6C] xE 42>6 =@@<:?8 7@C D@>6@?6 E92E 96 4@F=5 9FCE[ 9F>:=:2E6[ E6CC@C:K6 2?5 F=E:>2E6=J 56DEC@J]”k^Am
kAmr@D>@!C@7 :D 2 DE@C6 E92E DA64:2=:K6D :? AC@5F4ED 7@C =:46?D65 4@D>6E@=@8:DED DF49 2D 92:C AC@5F4ED[ 4=:AA6CD 2?5 :E6>D 7@C ?2:=42C6] |2E9:D 2D<65 p??2 23@FE AC@5F4ED 2?5 AC:46D 2D 96 E@=5 96C 9:D F?4=6 925 ;FDE @A6?65 2 ?2:= D2=@? 2?5 |2E9:D H2D 96=A:?8 9:>]k^Am
kAm“w6 D2:5 96 H2D ?@E 72>:=:2C H:E9 E96 AC@5F4ED[” p??2 D2:5]k^Am
kAm|@>6?ED =2E6C 2D p??2 368:?D E@ AF== 2? :E6> 7C@> 2 =@H6C D96=7[ |2E9:D 2AAC@24965 96C 7C@> 369:?5]k^Am
kAm“w:D H9@=6 56>62?@C 492?865[” D96 D2:5] “x H2D DE2CE:?8 E@ D92<6]”k^Am
kAm|2E9:D 2?5 p??2 H6C6 BF:4<=J 7246 E@ 7246] k^Am
kAm“w6 D2:5[ ‘x 92G6 2 8F? F?56C >J 42A6[’” p??2 D2:5] “‘x7 J@F D4C62>[ x H:== D9@@E J@F]’ x 5@?’E E9:?< x 92G6 6G6C 366? E92E D42C65] x H2D 9@CC:7:65]”k^Am
kAmp??2 E9@F89E E96 6?4@F?E6C H2D 8@:?8 E@ 36 ;FDE 2 C@336CJ 2D E96 4=:AA6CD 2?5 D@>6 @7 E96 AC@5F4ED :? E96 DE@C6 2C6 BF:E6 G2=F23=6] |2E9:D E96? 7@C465 p??2 :?E@ E96 324< C@@> H96C6 E96J 282:? DE@@5 7246 E@ 7246]k^Am
kAm“*@F 42? 92G6 2?JE9:?8 J@F H2?E[ ;FDE 5@?’E 9FCE >6[” D96 E@=5 |2E9:D] “x 92G6 2 52F89E6C 2?5 6=56C=J A2C6?ED]”k^Am
kAm|2E9:D E@=5 p??2 >F=E:A=6 E:>6D E@ D9FE FA] “$E@A E2=<:?8]” p?5 D@@? @C56C65 96C E@ =:6 7246 5@H? @? E96 7=@@C @7 E96 324< C@@>]k^Am
kAm“x E9@F89E 96 H2D 8@:?8 E@ D9@@E >6 :? E96 324< @7 E96 9625[” p??2 D2:5] “x 4@F=5 766= E96 4@=5 E:=6 @? >J 7246] xE’D 92C5 7@C >6 E@ H2=< 5@H? E96 92== @7 E96 D49@@= 2?5 766= E96 4@@= H2==] xE E2<6D >6 324< E@ E9:D >@>6?E]”k^Am
kAm|2E9:D E96? @C56CD p??2 E@ AFE 96C 2C>D 369:?5 96C] w6 FD65 82C3286 328D E@ E:6 96C FA 2E E96 6=3@HD] ':56@ @7 E96 DE@C6 2?5 324< C@@> D9@HD |2E9:D 8@:?8 E@ E96 7C@?E 5@@C E@ D66 :7 96 4@F=5 =@4< :E]k^Am
kAm“w6 C@==D >6 @G6C @? >J 324<[” p??2 D2:5] “w6 =:7E65 >J D9:CE] x <?6H H92E H2D 8@:?8 E@ 92AA6?]”k^Am
kAm|2E9:D AF==65 p??2’D 3C2 92C5 6?@F89 E92E :E 3C@<6] w6 AF==65 96C ;62?D @77 2?5 E96? E@@< 9:D A2?ED @77]k^Am
kAm“w6 86ED @? E@A @7 >6[” p??2 D2:5] “]]]x’> 3688:?8 9:> ?@E E@ 5@ E9:D] pE @?6 A@:?E 96 E@=5 >6 E@ E6== 9:> x =@G65 9:>] w6 E@=5 >6 E@ <:DD 9:>] x 5:5?’E H2?E E@]”k^Am
kAm%96 7:CDE 7:G6 >:?FE6D @7 E96 2EE24< H6C6 @G6C] qFE E92E H2D?’E E96 6?5] w6 <6AE ECJ:?8 E@ C2A6 p??2]k^Am
kAm“xE 76=E =:<6 7@C6G6C[” D96 D2:5] k^Am
kAmp7E6C E96 C2A6[ |2E9:D 2D<65 p??2 H96C6 E96 <6JD H6C6 E@ E96 DE@C6’D =@4<3@I] $96 A@:?E65 H:E9 96C =68D D:?46 96C 2C>D H6C6 DE:== 3@F?5] w6 7@F?5 2 56A@D:E 328 2?5 E@@< :E]k^Am
kAmpD D96 E6DE:7:65[ >6>36CD @7 E96 ;FCJ H6C6 D66? 7@4FD65 @? p??2[ H:?4:?8 2?5 >@G:?8 E:DDF6D E@ E96:C 6J6D]k^Am
kAm|2E9:D E96? 42>6 324< E@ p??2 2?5 AF==65 96C FA]k^Am
kAm“*@F 2C6 8@:?8 E@ 5:6 E@52J[” p??2 D2:5 |2E9:D D2:5 E@ 96C] “x ;FDE DE2CE65 E@ AC2J 7@C >J D@F=]”k^Am
kAm|2E9:D 362E p??2 H:E9 2 492:C[ 4@7766 >2<6C 2?5 >:4C@H2G6] w6 49@<6D 96C E@ E96 A@:?E D96 =@DE 4@?D4:@FD?6DD 2E E:>6D]k^Am
kAm“(96? x 42>6 E@[ :E 76=E =:<6 2 5C62>[” D96 D2:5] “w6 925 2 =:89E6C] w6 H2D 8@:?8 E@ 3FC? >6 FA]”k^Am
kAmp??2 368865 7@C 96C =:76] k^Am
kAm“*@F 2C6 DFAA@D65 E@ 36 5625[” p??2 D2:5 |2E9:D E@=5 96C] “(9J H@?’E J@F ;FDE 5:6n w6 EC:65 E@ 49@<6 >6 282:?] x 3:E 9:D 2C>]”k^Am
kAmp??2’D 2C>D 2C6 DE:== 3@F?5 369:?5 96C] |2E9:D 8C23D 2 82==@? ;F8 @7 56G6=@A6C FD65 :? 92:C 4@=@C:?8]k^Am
kAm“w6 D2:5[ ‘(6 2C6 8@:?8 E@ 5C:?< E9:D 2?5 H6 2C6 8@:?8 E@ 5:6[’” p??2 C642==65] “w6 @A6?65 :E 2?5 A@FC65 :E 2== @G6C >J 6J6D[ >@FE9 2?5 E9C@2E] x 4@F=5 962C E96 8FC8=6 2D :E 42>6 @FE @7 E96 ;F8]”k^Am
kAm|2E9:D EC:65 E@ 3FC? p??2’D A2?ED @? E96 7=@@C 2?5 2 42C53@2C5 3@I :? E96 @77:46[ 2?5 E96? =67E E9C@F89 E96 324< 5@@C @7 E96 DE@C6] p??2 82E96C65 96CD6=7] %96 6?E:C6 6?4@F?E6C H2D ?@H ?62C=J b_ >:?FE6D @=5] }@E <?@H:?8 :7 |2E9:D H2D 8@:?8 E@ 4@>6 324<[ D96 E9@F89E 23@FE H92E E@ 5@ ?6IE]k^Am
kAm“x’> 2=:G6] x >256 :E[” p??2 E9@F89E] “w6’D 8@?6] x 8@EE2 CF? 3642FD6 96 :D 8@:?8 E@ 86E D@>6E9:?8 2?5 4@>6 324<]”k^Am
kAmp??2 EC:65 E@ 4C62E6 2 >6DD 3J AF==:?8 AC@5F4ED @? E96 7=@@C 2D D96 =67E E9C@F89 E96 7C@?E @7 E96 DE@C6] k^Am
kAm“x AFD965 E96 5@@C @A6? 2?5 D2H E9:D =:89E @FED:56[” p??2 D2:5] “xE H2D E96 36DE 766=:?8] x D4C62>]”k^Am
kAmp??2 H2D ?F56 7C@> E96 H2:DE 5@H?] $96 4@F=5?’E D66]k^Am
kAmp?5 D96 C2?]k^Am
kAmp??2 BF:4<=J 6?E6C65 q6=< 24C@DD E96 H2J 7C@> r@D>@!C@7] $E@C6 DE277 2?5 4FDE@>6CD 3682? E@ 42C6 7@C p??2] %96J 42==65 h``] k^Am
kAm%96 D64@?5 D9:7E :?G6DE:82E:@?D E62> H2D 62E:?8 2E r92AAJ’D ;FDE 5@H? E96 H2J H96? E96 42== H6?E @FE]k^Am
kAm%96J BF:4<=J C6DA@?565 2?5 96=A65 6D4@CE p??2 E@ E96 9@DA:E2=] %96 !C2EEG:==6 !@=:46 s6A2CE>6?E BF:4<=J 7@F?5 |2E9:D =2J:?8 7=2E @? 9:D DE@>249 H:E9 2C>D @FEDEC6E4965 :? E96 D9@AA:?8 46?E6C]k^Am
kAmp??2 H2D EC62E65 2E !C2EEG:==6 q2AE:DE w@DA:E2=] $96 2=D@ H6?E E@ q:C>:?892> 7@C 2 D6IF2= 2DD2F=E 6I2>] $6IF2= pDD2F=E }FCD6 6I2>:?6C ':C2 %2EF> D2:5 D96 5@6D?’E C6>6>36C >2?J @7 E96 b__ D6IF2= 2DD2F=E G:4E:>D D96 92D D66? 7C@> E96 =2DE `_ J62CD 3FE G:G:5=J C6>6>36CD p??2] k^Am
kAm“x? ?FCD:?8 J@F 5@?’E ?@C>2==J E2<6 E96 A2E:6?E 9@>6[” %2EF> D2:5[ H:A:?8 96C 6J6D] “$96 H2D @?6] x AC2J65 7@C 96C >F=E:A=6 E:>6D] xE :D @?6 @7 E96 >@DE 6IEC6>6 42D6D x 92G6 D66?]”k^Am
kAm%2EF> D2:5 p??2 E@=5 96C E96 DE@CJ] %2EF>’D E6DE:>@?J =:?65 FA H:E9 p??2’D 2?5 H:E9 E96 G:56@D :? 6G:56?46]k^Am
kAm%2EF> 4@==64E65 s}p 6G:56?46 E92E A@:?E65 E@ |2E9:D] $96 2=D@ ?@E65 E96 :?;FC:6D E@ p??2’D 9625[ 7246[ =:AD[ 6J6D[ 3@5J 2?5 AC:G2E6 2C62D]k^Am
kAm%2EF> 7@F?5 E96 DF3DE2?46 E92E |2E9:D A@FC65 @? p??2] xE H2D :? p??2’D 92:C[ @? 96C 3@5J 2?5 :? E96 4C62D6D @7 96C 7246 9@FCD 27E6C E96 2EE24<]k^Am
kAmp??2 H2D :? E96 4@FCEC@@> ;FDE 52JD =2E6C 2D |2E9:D 925 2? p?:29’D {2H w62C:?8] r]y] #@3:?D@?[ `hE9 yF5:4:2= r:C4F:E s:DEC:4E pEE@C?6J[ C642==65 p??2’D AC6D6?46 :? E96 4@FCEC@@> 7@C E96 962C:?8]k^Am
kAm“$96 42>6 E@ E92E 962C:?8 H:E9 3=24< 6J6D[ H:E9 >65:42= 4@?EC2AE:@?D 2C@F?5 96C 6J6D 7C@> E96 496>:42= 3FC?D E92E D96 C646:G65[ H:E9 2 42DE 2?5 E9:?8 @? 96C 92?5 H96C6 D96 925 925 DFC86CJ[ 2?5 D96 ?6G6C 324<65 5@H? 7@C @?6 >:?FE6[” #@3:?D@? D2:5] “x <?6H 2E E92E >@>6?E E92E D96 925 E96 DFAA@CE 2C@F?5 96C E@ H96C6 D96 H@F=5 ?@E 36 :56?E:7:65 2D 2 G:4E:>] $96 H2D 8@:?8 E@ 36 2 DFCG:G@C]”k^Am
kAmy@D9 r@49C2?[ `hE9 yF5:4:2= r:C4F:E 49:67 2DD:DE2?E 5:DEC:4E 2EE@C?6J[ 42==65 p??2 E96 8@@5 :? 2 “v@@5 GD] tG:=” 32EE=6]k^Am
kAm“$96 =@@<65 2 >@?DE6C :? E96 7246[” r@49C2? D2:5] “$96 DFCG:G65] %92E :D 8@@5 2?5 E9:D EC:2= :D 8@@5 362E:?8 6G:=]”k^Am
kAm|2E9:D 925 366? F?CF=J :? 962C:?8D D:?46 9:D 2CC6DE =625:?8 FA E@ 9:D EC:2=] |2?J E:>6D E2<6? @FE @7 E96 4@FCEC@@> 2E E96 FC8:?8 @7 ;2:= DE277] k^Am
kAm|2E9:D 7:=65 >@E:@?D E@ C6AC6D6?E 9:>D6=7 :? E96 EC:2=] xE H2D @?=J 9@FCD 367@C6 E96 EC:2= E92E |2E9:D 2==@H65 9:D 2EE@C?6J E@ =625] tG6? E96? 9:D 3692G:@C H2D ?@E65 :? ;FCJ D6=64E:@?] pD @?6 @7 E96 G:56@D H2D 36:?8 A=2J65 :? 4@FCE %F6D52J[ yF586 y@J q@@E9 925 E@ 6I4FD6 ;FC@CD 7@C 2 >@>6?E E@ 2==@H E96 C6>@G2= @7 |2E9:D]k^Am
kAm“w6 D2:5 D@>6E9:?8 :? E96 G:56@ E92E EC:886C65 9:>[” |2E9:D’ 2AA@:?E65 2EE@C?6J #:492C5 {:G6=J D2:5]k^Am
kAmq@@E9 2CC2?865 7@C |2E9:D E@ A2CE:4:A2E6 :? E96 C6>2:?:?8 A2CE @7 %F6D52J’D EC:2= G:2 +@@> 7C@> E96 t=>@C6 r@F?EJ y2:=]k^Am
kAm~? (65?6D52J[ |2E9:D E@@< E96 DE2?5 :? 9:D @H? 5676?D6] w6 D2:5 96 925 366? :? %2==292DD66[ u=@C:52 62C=:6C E92E 52J H96? p??2 H2D 2EE24<65]k^Am
kAm“%H@ A6@A=6 3C@F89E >6 96C6[” |2E9:D E6DE:7:65] “%96J >256 >6 5@ :E] %96J 925 >J =:EE=6 D:DE6C]”k^Am
kAm%96 =:EE=6 D:DE6C DE@CJ BF:4<=J EFC?65 :?E@ E96 f\J62C\@=5 52F89E6C @7 2 5C:G6C H9@ 3C@F89E 9:> E@ p=232>2] |2E9:D’ DE@CJ 2=D@ D2:5 96 H2D ?@E @7 E96 C:89E >:?5] w6 D2:5 D@>6@?6 925 8:G6? 9:> 2 3=F?E E92E >256 9:> “@FE @7 9:D >:?5]”k^Am
kAm|2E9:D 25>:EE65 E@ J62CD @7 5CF8 FD6[ 92G:?8 366? :?42C46C2E65 :? u=@C:52[ 92G:?8 2 ;FG6?:=6 C64@C5 2?5 J62CD @7 4@>>:EE:?8 4C:>6]k^Am
kAm%96 ;FCJ E@@< ;FDE ac >:?FE6D E@ C6EFC? E96:C 8F:=EJ G6C5:4E 7@C 7:CDE\568C66 C2A6[ 2EE6>AE65 >FC56C[ 7:CDE\568C66 C@336CJ 2?5 2EE6>AE65 2CD@?]k^Am
kAm|2E9:D ?@H 7246D FA E@ E9C66 =:76 D6?E6?46D A=FD hh J62CD :? AC:D@? 2D AC@D64FE@CD 2C6 D66<:?8 2? 6?92?465 D6?E6?46 H:E9 |2E9:D’ 7:G6 AC:@C 76=@?J 4@?G:4E:@?D :? u=@C:52] q@@E9 H:== D6?E6?46 |2E9:D :? s646>36C]k^Am
kAm|2E9:D H2D ah 2E E96 E:>6 @7 E96 2EE24< @? p??2] xE’D D@>6E9:?8 E92E AC@323=J D9@F=5?’E 92AA6? 8:G6? 7:G6 25F=E 76=@?J 4@?G:4E:@?D] k^Am
kAm#@3:?D@? 36=:6G6D |2E9:D D9@F=5 92G6 366? :? AC:D@? 2E E96 E:>6 @7 E96 2EE24<]k^Am
kAm“(6 H6C6 =67E E@ 4=62? FA 2 >6DD[” #@3:?D@? D2:5] “$@>63@5J D@>6H96C6 6=D6 5:5?VE 5@ E96:C ;@3]”k^Am