William Devonshire: The Tamiami Trail Killer
Overview
William Jeffrey Devonshire was a career criminal and convicted murderer whose violent path stretched over two decades and across two states. His final acts of violence occurred in Sarasota, Florida, where he murdered two women in early 2022, nearly twenty years after committing his first known murder in Delaware. Devonshire, who was experiencing homelessness at the time, targeted vulnerable women in similar circumstances. He was apprehended and charged with one of the Florida murders, but his death in jail from medical complications prevented him from facing trial for either. Posthumous DNA analysis definitively confirmed his responsibility for both Sarasota homicides, closing the cases and solidifying his status as a serial killer who preyed on the defenseless.
Early Life and Criminal History
William Jeffrey Devonshire was born in Wilmington, Delaware, on September 23, 1969. Public records reveal little about his upbringing or family life. His criminal behavior began at the age of 14, marking the start of a long and prolific history of offenses. Before committing his first murder, the 6-foot-4-inch, 220-pound Devonshire had amassed an extensive rap sheet in at least five states: Delaware, Maryland, Indiana, Ohio, and New Jersey. His numerous convictions included charges for assault, aggravated harassment, battery, burglary, and trespassing. This pattern of escalating criminality established him as a dangerous and mobile offender long before he became a killer.
The Murder of Albert C. Harris Sr.
In the spring of 2003, Devonshire was living in a mobile home in Magnolia, a small town in Kent County, Delaware. On April 6, 2003, a neighbor, 51-year-old Albert C. Harris Sr., was found dead inside his own mobile home on Irish Hill Road. He had been brutally bludgeoned to death. The violent crime shocked the local community, with many believing the killer was likely someone acquainted with Harris.
Investigators eventually turned their attention to Devonshire. While he was imprisoned at the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on unrelated charges, police obtained DNA evidence from his residence that linked him to the murder scene. In January 2004, a grand jury indicted Devonshire on charges of first-degree murder and possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony. He was convicted of murder in 2005. However, for reasons that have never been publicly disclosed, the first-degree murder conviction was later reduced to second-degree murder. After serving approximately eight years in prison, William Devonshire was released on parole in 2013.
Parole and Life in Florida
Following his release, Devonshire relocated to Sarasota, Florida, arriving in November 2013. His criminal activities did not stop. Over the next nine years, he had frequent encounters with local law enforcement for a variety of offenses and was described by police as a transient.
A particularly disturbing incident in December 2015 foreshadowed the violence to come. Devonshire was arrested in Sarasota for battery by strangulation and kidnapping. The female victim reported that during the assault, which took place near the 10th Street boat ramp, Devonshire ominously told her, "I'll kill you just like I killed him," a direct reference to his murder conviction in Delaware. Despite the violent nature of the attack and his chilling confession, the charges were later dropped by the State Attorney's office. By early 2022, Devonshire was living among the homeless population in Sarasota, frequently seen in the area along the North Tamiami Trail.
The Tamiami Trail Murders
In the winter of 2022, a pair of brutal murders instilled fear in Sarasota's homeless community. On February 25, the body of 48-year-old Kelliann Ripley was discovered in a wooded area near the Centennial Park boat ramp on North Tamiami Trail. Her body had been partially concealed by palm fronds and other debris. An autopsy performed by the 12th District Medical Examiner's Office revealed she had died from a combination of blunt force trauma and manual strangulation.
Just over two weeks later, on the afternoon of March 10, the body of a second woman, 59-year-old Vicky Levitch, was found less than a mile away. Her remains were located near the shore of Whitaker Bayou, also along the Tamiami Trail. The manner of her death was alarmingly similar to Ripley's. Police noted that both women had been "brutally beaten" and strangled. Both were known to be part of the local "homeless or quasi-homeless" population, confirming a terrifying pattern.
The Victims
- Albert C. Harris Sr., 51 — A resident of Magnolia, Delaware, he was found murdered in his mobile home on April 6, 2003. He was Devonshire's neighbor at the time.
- Kelliann Ripley, 48 — Found on February 25, 2022, in Sarasota, Florida. Her family, based in Ohio, gave police permission to release her name to the public. They remembered her as a loving mother, sister, and grandmother.
- Vicky Levitch, 59 — Found on March 10, 2022, in Sarasota, Florida. Like Kelliann Ripley, she was experiencing homelessness at the time of her murder. Police noted the "striking" similarities between the two women's deaths.
Investigation and Capture
The discovery of two women murdered in such a brutal and similar fashion in a short period prompted an intense investigation by the Sarasota Police Department. Recognizing the hallmarks of a serial predator, detectives worked tirelessly, sacrificing nights and weekends to find the person responsible.
Investigators already had William Devonshire on their radar and had placed him under surveillance. On March 15, 2022, while speaking with officers, Devonshire voluntarily provided a buccal swab for DNA comparison. Ten days later, on March 25, officers arrested him in Centennial Park—an area from which he had previously been banned—on charges of trespassing, possession of cocaine, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The crucial break in the case came the very next day. On March 26, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) confirmed a direct match between Devonshire's DNA and evidence recovered from Kelliann Ripley's body during her autopsy. Already in custody at the Sarasota County Jail on the trespassing and drug charges, Devonshire was now charged with Ripley's murder.
At a press conference on March 28, Sarasota's Interim Police Chief Rex Troche announced the arrest. He called the investigation a success of "science and technology" combined with dedicated police work. Troche also revealed that Devonshire was a "strong suspect" in the murder of Vicky Levitch, whose identity was not released at the time. The connection was strengthened by surveillance video from February 23 that captured Ripley walking with a man later identified as Devonshire, heading toward the park where her body would be found.
Death Before Trial
While awaiting trial at the Sarasota County Jail, Devonshire's health began to fail. He had a known history of epilepsy and was reportedly refusing to take his medication. On May 17, 2022, he suffered a medical event, believed to be a seizure, during which he fell and struck his head, causing a severe brain bleed. He was transported to Sarasota Memorial Hospital for treatment.
On May 27, he was returned to the jail's medical wing, where he was placed under hospice care with a do-not-resuscitate order. On the morning of June 5, 2022, at 6:38 a.m., William Devonshire died at the age of 52. His death brought an end to the criminal proceedings against him. At the time of Devonshire's death, Sarasota Police Captain Johnathan Todd confirmed that detectives were in the process of writing the probable cause affidavit to formally charge him with the murder of Vicky Levitch.
Aftermath and Legacy
Following Devonshire's death, the Sarasota Police Department announced that they were closing the homicide cases of both Kelliann Ripley and Vicky Levitch. Though he would never face a jury for these crimes, law enforcement officials expressed absolute certainty of his guilt. Captain Todd stated, "We have indisputable evidence that links Devonshire to both of the homicides."
This certainty was scientifically cemented in October 2022. A final report from the FDLE, dated October 7, confirmed that DNA belonging to Vicky Levitch was found on clothing Devonshire was wearing when he was arrested. With DNA now conclusively linking him to both murders, authorities officially declared him the killer of both women, bringing a definitive, if unsatisfying, close to the investigation. The case of William Devonshire serves as a grim reminder of the profound vulnerabilities faced by homeless populations and the tragic, repeated failures of the justice system to stop a predator's escalating violence.
