Vero Beach, Florida – More than fifty years after the murder of World War II veteran Hiram ‘Ross’ Grayam while working as a milkman in Vero Beach, Florida, investigators have finally solved the case with the help of two individuals who came forward following the death of the killer.
Grayam, a decorated World War II veteran and Purple Heart recipient, was known as a beloved milkman in Indian River County, where he settled after the war. Described as a kind-hearted man, Grayam would assist customers with their milk bills out of his own pocket if they were short on funds.
In April 1968, Grayam failed to return home after delivering milk in the Vero Beach area, prompting a search that led to the discovery of his body next to his milk truck deep in the woods. The murder, occurring shortly after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., was initially attributed to robbery by the local sheriff, although Grayam’s son, Larry, disagreed with this assessment in a 2010 interview.
The case remained unsolved for over half a century until recent breakthroughs emerged. Thomas J. Williams, long suspected of involvement, was linked to Grayam’s murder posthumously when witnesses came forward with new information. Williams, who passed away in 2016, had reportedly confessed to the crime to his ex-wife and a friend of his sister.
With new leads in hand, detectives are now seeking information on the second man seen with Grayam before his murder. The courage of the witnesses who came forward following Williams’s death has reignited hopes of closing this cold case once and for all.