Abductor Commits Suicide; Amelia Woman Still Missing

The search continues for 68-year-old Amelia resident Olene Brooks after the man who reportedly abducted her shot himself in the head as law enforcement agencies attempted to arrest him last week.

Dana L. William, 43, shot himself in the head as officers entered an apartment in Fitchburg, Massachusetts to arrest him last Wednesday. He died on Thursday according to a spokesman for the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force in Richmond, whose unit tracked William to Massachusetts.

According to reports, William was staying with a female in the area when the fugitive task force determined his whereabouts. The day before, a Fitchburg police officer located the 2010 Dodge Caravan registered to Woodell and Olene Brooks.  William killed Woodell Brooks inside the couple’s Amelia home on Jan. 21 before abducting his wife, Olene.

Police continue to search for her and a $3,500 reward has been posted for information that can help in finding her.

William was convicted in 2013 of rape and was the former son-in-law of Woodell and Olene Brooks. Search groups that include Amelia law enforcement, Virginia State Police and the Virginia Department of Emergency Management have been searching in the Amelia areas near the Brooks’ home, but have extended the search area.

Anyone with information that can help with this investigation and search should call the Amelia Sheriff’s Office at (804) 561-2118; Amelia Crime Solvers at (804) 561-5200; or Virginia State Police at #77 on a cellphone or at questions@vsp.virginia.gov.