Left to right: Cheryl Lynn Williams and Blane Lane (Polk County Sheriff”s Office).
A Florida woman will likely spend multiple decades behind bars for the death of a deputy – though she did not fire the shot that killed him.
On Thursday, a Polk County jury found Cheryl Lynn Williams, aged 49, guilty on multiple charges including second-degree murder, resisting an officer without violence, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of methamphetamine.
In October 2022, Williams faced arrest on 13 felony charges after Polk County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Blane Lane, 21, was tragically killed by friendly fire. The incident occurred as part of a four-person team was carrying out a felony arrest warrant at Williams’ home in Polk City, a small town located about 40 miles southwest of Orlando.
At the time of the incident, Williams was wanted for failure to appear in court on a drug possession charge, law enforcement said.
In the early hours of Oct. 4, 2022, at around 3 a.m., Lane, along with Sergeant Michael Brooks, and Deputies Johnny Holsonback III and Adam Pennell, arrived on the scene. They quickly discovered, based on a witness’s account, that Williams was in the back of the house.
Another witness reportedly said, “She’s in here,” prompting Lane to take a “tactical” position at the rear of the building as the three other deputies proceeded to enter the residence.
The sheriff’s office noted in a press release that Lane’s tactical view allowed him to monitor the door and windows in case the suspect attempted to escape.
Williams then came into view near a “gaming room,” wielding a “silver handgun,” which was later identified as a deceptively realistic BB gun, according to the sheriff’s office. A barrage of gunfire erupted, striking Williams at least twice and hitting Lane once.
The lone bullet entered his arm and made its way into his chest. The deputy, who had been sworn in to serve just a few months prior, later died at Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center.
“This suspect’s outrageous criminal actions were the cause of my deputy being killed in the line of duty, and the jury appropriately found her guilty as charged,” Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said in comments provided to St. Petersburg-based CBS affiliate WTSP. “Her family can visit her in prison, but Blane’s family has to visit his grave in a cemetery and can only have a one-sided conversation with him. We will never forget Deputy Blane Lane, and his family remains in our prayers.”
A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled. Williams faces the possibility of life in prison due to the second-degree murder conviction.
The defendant, for her part, reportedly sat in court and did not express emotion as each conviction was read, according to WTSP.
Blane’s mother, however, was essentially the opposite – hailing the verdict through tears while acknowledging the limits of formal justice.
“I would love to say there is a sign of relief — it doesn’t bring him back,” his mother told the TV station. “So I’m glad she’s done. She is done.”
