Linda Strait was a beacon of light and joy in our family. On Sunday, September 26, 1982, our lives were forever changed. Fifteen-year-old Linda embarked on what should have been a routine walk to the grocery store from her home in north Spokane—a path she had confidently tread many times. Tragically, she never returned home. Her body was discovered in the Spokane river the following day.

In broad daylight, Linda was abducted and then was taken to a wooded area and brutally raped and murdered by Arbie Dean Williams, a man who later confessed to his heinous crime. He stated that he sat in a bar drinking and fantasized about kidnapping and raping a young girl, left the bar, saw Linda walking and grabbed her by the neck and forced her into his car. He raped her multiple times and took her life in a remote area in Stevens County, stripping her away from us, her family, and her dreams of a bright future. The loss is something we carry every day, a void that can never be filled. 

In 1983 he also committed similar brutal crimes against one of the two eight-year-old girls that he kidnapped from their Spokane Valley school playground.

Now, decades later, the thought of Williams being released back into any community is terrifying and heart-wrenching. The pain of losing Linda resurfaces every time her case is revisited. Her life was taken in the most brutal manner, and justice demands that he remain behind bars.

Releasing Arbie Dean Williams poses a significant threat to the safety of our community and serves as a harsh reminder of the void left by Linda's murder. Allowing him back into society undermines the gravity of his crime and the immense pain he inflicted upon our family and the community.

We urge the parole board to consider the impact of Linda's loss and the other two girls, and the risks associated with Williams' potential release. Our community's safety must remain a priority, and justice for Linda must be upheld.

Please join me in opposing the release of Arbie Dean Williams. Your signature can make a difference in ensuring that justice is served and that our communities remain safe from harm.

Please sign by March 20 as his hearing date is April 7th.