An Ohio man who had been on the run for five years after being accused of the death of a toddler was finally arrested this week in Massachusetts.
Police in Framingham announced that 25-year-old Dioblis Williams was taken into custody on Wednesday morning, Aug. 27, around 8:30 a.m. downtown. Officers said Williams, who had been wanted since 2020, was wearing a wig when they spotted him.
Williams is accused of killing 2-year-old Jamir Jones, who was found unconscious in a bathtub in Columbus, Ohio, while Williams was babysitting his girlfriend’s son. The case was originally reported as a possible drowning, but court records later revealed disturbing details.
An autopsy showed the boy had blunt force trauma to his abdomen along with bruises on his head, stomach, and neck. He was rushed to the hospital but didn’t survive.
Police in Massachusetts said Officer Andrew Lewis was in the area for a briefing with the U.S. Marshals Service and the Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section, who were actively working to track Williams down. While walking, Lewis noticed two people on the sidewalk, one of whom appeared to be wearing a wig. Officers soon determined that the person was, in fact, Williams.
When another officer tried to stop him, Williams ran across the street, stumbled, and dropped the wig before surrendering. He was arrested on charges of Fugitive from Justice in Massachusetts and on a murder warrant out of Ohio. He is currently booked at the Framingham Police Department.
Deputy chief Sean Riley told KOLD News 13, “That person was in our community and wanted for a pretty horrific crime.” The outlet also reported that authorities believed Williams was in the area based on his activity on Instagram.
Back in 2020, Columbus police had first responded to Williams’ claim that the toddler drowned while in the bath. But investigators later concluded that the boy had been left unsupervised, and the autopsy results pointed to abuse rather than an accident.
Acting U.S. Marshal Kevin Neal said in a statement, “Today’s arrest is a reminder that you can run, but you can’t hide. Mr. Williams thought that he could evade arrest and accountability by hiding in Massachusetts. I hope that today’s arrest brings us one step closer to justice for a young child whose life ended tragically.”
It’s still unclear why Williams chose Massachusetts or what he was doing there in the years he evaded police. For now, authorities say he will be arraigned in Massachusetts while they prepare for his extradition back to Ohio, where he will face the murder charge.