A convicted killer who became eligible for parole in 2021 because of a 2021 Supreme Court ruling is out of prison for the second time.

In 2005, James Williams III was convicted and given two life sentences in the 2002 fatal shootings and partial dismemberment of Cindy Williams and his father, James Williams Jr. Just 19 years later, a changing legal landscape has made him a free man again.

Last year, Cindy’s family was told that James Williams III would be paroled, but they had a month’s notice to deal with it. They spent that month fighting to keep Williams III in prison. The groundswell to keep him locked up was noteworthy as 27 Mississippi House members asked the Parole Board to reverse their decision to grant Williams III parole, calling it a “public safety issue.”

Still, on May 16 of last year, Williams was released by the parole board in a hearing Cindy’s family knew nothing about and were therefore not in attendance. Williams III had become eligible for parole after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2021 that those who commit crimes as juveniles should be eligible.

Cindy’s son Zeno Mangum wrote in a release in April 2023 that “it is confusing why … family members were not notified of the parole hearing and why the same board that assured the family just a year ago that Williams III would never be released has reversed their decision. Having to go before the board every year to keep a person in prison that committed two horrific murders and received two life sentences is cruel to the victim’s family. There are no rights for the victims or their family from this cold-blooded killer.”

In October, Williams’ car was found in a ditch in front of Valvoline in Pearl, where he worked at the time. During the course of the investigation, James Williams III admitted to being drunk and wrecking his car. He was arrested for DUI 1st offense, which is a misdemeanor. His parole was revoked, and he went back to prison for “at least a year.”

Tuesday was just another day that members of Cindy Williams’ family were awaiting another parole hearing for Williams III that was supposed to be held on Sept. 16. In spite of the fact that Cindy Williams was shot in cold blood by her stepson, who had then attempted to dismember her so that she would fit inside a Rubbermaid tote, the idea of parole has always loomed since James Williams III was 17 at the time of the murders.

On Tuesday, Mangum posted to Facebook, “I desperately need some help getting in touch with Lynn Fitch. My step brothers lawyer filed some motion to have him released and a judge in hinds co signed off on it. To be released immediately. He may even already be released.”

On Wednesday, the family was notified that James Williams III would walk free again… again.

Court documents showed Williams III’s attorney’s contention that “the Board’s finding that he committed a misdemeanor offense (DUI 1 51) is a finding that he committed a technical violation of the conditions of his parole.”

Because it was the first revocation for a technical violation, attorneys contended, the subsequent imprisonment should be for only 90 days.

The State agreed with that. “Since he has already served more than ninety days in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections, he maintains that he should be released immediately and returned to parole. The State agrees that Mr. Williams is entitled to the requested relief,” said a judgement signed by Hinds County Circuit Court Judge Debra Gibbs and Assistant District Attorney Joe Hemleben.

“The Board’s order returning him to prison for at least one year is illegal and is hereby VACATED,” the judgement reads.