William Joseph Clifton, a 48-year-old former Onslow County deputy, was found dead on July 7, 2017, in Woodlands Park, Jacksonville, NC. Clifton died from multiple gunshot wounds and blunt force trauma to the head. His body was discovered at 6:30 a.m. on that fateful Friday morning. Clifton had previously served as a school resource officer at Southwest High School.
The investigation into Clifton's death revealed a complex and troubling relationship between him and an 18-year-old female suspect, Caitlyn Ridgeway. Ridgeway, also from Jacksonville, was arrested and charged with murder in connection with Clifton's death. Court documents indicated that Ridgeway and Clifton had been in a relationship, during which Clifton had sent her pictures of guns and pills, threatened her, and even tied her to a bed on two occasions. A protective order issued in February 2016 mandated that Clifton stay away from Ridgeway and her family for one year.
Despite this, Clifton continued to contact Ridgeway, leading to an internal investigation within the Sheriff's Department and his subsequent resignation.
In addition to Ridgeway, another 18-year-old male suspect, Will James Welch Jr., was also charged with an open count of murder. Welch, who was last seen as a student at Jacksonville High School in April of that year, was arrested and held without bail. According to Welch's confession, he encountered Clifton at Woodlands Park, where Clifton was seen hugging and kissing Ridgeway. Welch attacked Clifton, took his gun, and proceeded to shoot him five times. An autopsy later confirmed that Clifton was fatally wounded by a gunshot that entered the left side of his body, went through his heart, and severed his aorta.
The legal proceedings for both suspects were ongoing, with Ridgeway's next court date set for August 16 and Welch's court date scheduled for August 7. Welch pled guilty to second-degree murder and robbery with a dangerous weapon, while Ridgeway awaited further legal action. The investigation, conducted jointly by Jacksonville Police Detectives and NCIS Carolinas Field Office Special Agents, remained open, with no additional arrests anticipated at the time.
