Trial begins for woman accused of killing elderly couple in Mount Dora
By Bob Hazen
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MOUNT DORA, Fla. (WESH) — The trial for Vickie Williams, accused of murdering an elderly couple at their Mount Dora home on New Year’s Eve in 2022, began Monday at the Lake County Courthouse, where her defense claims she was insane at the time.
Williams’ defense lawyer did not deny that she killed Darryl and Sharon Getman but argued that her actions were driven by psychosis.
“Because of her psychosis, we will learn that Ms. Williams believed that Mr. and Mrs. Getman were going to rape and kill her children, and she had to stop them from doing so even though this sounds crazy,” her lawyer said.
The defense told the jury that Williams has a brain abnormality, hears voices, sees people who aren’t there, and believes the rapture is coming. They described her bizarre behavior, including showing up in random houses, making nonsensical statements, and giggling to herself.
Williams is accused of sneaking into the Waterman Village senior living complex multiple times before allegedly stabbing the Getmans and stealing their car.
Prosecutors acknowledged Williams’ mental illness but argued that she understood her actions and their consequences.
“Vickie Williams knew what she was doing and the consequences, and she knew what she did was wrong,” prosecutors said.
They noted that Williams returned to her home in Savannah after the murders, washed her clothes in the Getmans’ house, and lied to investigators about several details.
Prosecutors are now calling witnesses, including residents of the Getmans’ neighborhood.
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