Family questions death of missing Algiers man found dead

ALGIERS, La. (WGNO) — The family of a missing 97-year-old Algiers man is searching for answers after his body was found under an interstate overpass in Alabama.

Frank Williams’ family first reported him missing on Tuesday, Jan. 2.

His wife, Ethel, says she expected to see him on New Year’s Eve, but Williams, who lives in New Orleans East, never showed up. 

“I was worried he didn’t come by my house like he was supposed to, so I called the guy. He told me he’d left at 9:30 at night. I said he can’t see well enough or drive anywhere at night,” said his wife.

One day later, she filed a missing person report with the New Orleans Police Department after receiving a strange call from his phone, but it wasn’t her husband on the line. 

“They found his car in a ditch. The man helped him get out of the ditch and he said, ‘Where do y’all live?’ I said, ‘New Orleans, Louisiana’, and he said, ‘Well, I’m going to put him on Highway 80. He is in Alabama.’ I said, ‘Alabama? What would he be doing there?” said his wife.

Tragically, Creola police say Williams was found Thursday morning under the Interstate 65 overpass near Mobile, Alabama.

They say it appeared he’d gotten out of his car and walked about 30 yards before falling down a steep embankment. They don’t suspect foul play, but his wife said the facts don’t add up.

“I’ll never believe he drove that truck to Alabama, no Creole, Alabama. Somebody drove that truck. He didn’t,” said his wife.

Ethel said she thinks there is more to the story.

“He can’t drive good enough at night. He can’t see good. He had to see daylight to see good his eyes were bad. If a person asked him to bring them somewhere, he would, and I think he did. I think he was willing to drive somebody wherever they were willing to go,” says his wife.

Anyone with information on Williams’ whereabouts before he was found, can call Fourth District detectives at (504)-658-6040.

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