HARRISBURG, PA — A Philadelphia man admitted Tuesday to killing four people in 2018 and 2019 as part of a series of murders for hire, Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry announced.
Steven M. Williams, 30, pleaded guilty to three counts of third-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in connection with the killings. His guilty plea stems from a larger investigation conducted by the Philadelphia Police Department Homicide Unit and the Attorney General’s Gun Violence Task Force into contract killings.
“This defendant callously took lives, for dollars, as a paid killer,” Attorney General Henry said. “We will be asking the court for a sentence that ensures the community is protected.”
Williams was involved in the murders of William Crawford, 35, on September 8, 2018, in Northeast Philadelphia; Jermaine Simmons, 39, on February 10, 2019, in West Oak Lane; Richard Isaac, 31, on March 25, 2019, in Mount Airy; and Leslie Carroll, 39, on May 4, 2019, in Fairmount.
Williams, who will be sentenced on March 5, 2025, faces the prospect of a lengthy prison term for his role in these killings, which shocked communities across Philadelphia.
The case underscores the devastating impact of contract killings and the collaborative efforts of law enforcement to hold those responsible accountable.