Family continues to fight to keep man convicted of kidnapping and murdering three-year-old in 1982 in prison

SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WXIX) – The family of a 3-year-old who was kidnapped and killed in 1982 continues to fight to keep the convicted man behind bars.

Bob Evers and his family are campaigning to keep Adrian Williams in the Chillicothe Correctional Institution. On Father's Day 1982, Adrian Williams took Jason Evers from the YMCA near his Springfield Township home and lured him into the woods, where he killed him, investigators said. Officials say Jason's body was found about 40 days later.

Williams, then a teenager, tried to extort a ransom for Jason but was caught by the FBI, Bob Evers, Jason's father, said in 2019.

Prison records show that he was eventually sentenced to 50 years in prison for kidnapping and manslaughter.

Bob says they will have to repeat this tragic night every five years when Williams is released on parole.

“It's a public outcry. It has a big impact on the parole board,” Bob said.

Evers' family believes Williams should have received the death penalty or at least a life sentence.

According to court documents, Williams was sentenced to 50 years in prison.

“I and my family received a life sentence. Williams has to serve at least his 50 years,” Bob said.

The family has started several petitions, most recently one on change.org, to keep Williams in prison.

Williams is scheduled to appear before the parole board in December, and prison records show his expected release date is February 2025.

Do you see a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Click here to report it.

Do you have a photo or video of a recent news story? Send it here with a short description.

All rights reserved.