Offender Record · OFF-2026-155
William Sapp (photo from the Radford University biography)
William Kessler Sapp
Also known as William Kessler Lilly, Bob Sapp, Robert Lancaster, Bill Sapp, Billy Lilly, William Kessler Lilly, Billy Bob Sapp
Sex
Male
Race
White
Height
5'8"
Weight
210 lbs
Hair
Blonde
Eyes
Blue
Born
1962
Custody
Incarcerated
States
OH, FL
Custody
Incarcerated at Ross Correctional Institution, Chillicothe, Ohio · #A337278
Custody record at the facility
Sentenced to death October 21, 1999; death row inmate. Housed at Ross Correctional Institution (moved from Mansfield Correctional Institution circa 2012-2024); incarcerated since October 4, 1996.
This record documents arrests, charges and convictions reported by courts, law enforcement agencies and news organizations. Every statement is tied to a cited source with an archived copy. A charge is an accusation, not proof of guilt; a person charged is presumed innocent unless convicted. Where a record says named by police, no charge was ever filed: the record rests on a law enforcement agency's public identification of the deceased person, cited below. Not guilty by reason of insanity means the court found the act proven but the person not criminally responsible. Solve the Case does not allege that this person committed any offense beyond what the cited records state, and this record is not a suggestion that the person is connected to any unsolved case. How records are built, corrected and removed.
Summary of the record
William Kessler Sapp, born March 22, 1962, in Springfield, Ohio, was convicted of three murders and multiple sexual assaults. He was convicted of the aggravated murders and rapes of two children, 12-year-old Phree Morrow and 11-year-old Martha Leach, in August 1992, the aggravated murder and rape of 31-year-old Belinda Anderson in September 1993, and the rape and attempted murder of an adult woman, Hazel Pearson, in December 1993. Sapp was sentenced to death on October 21, 1999, and is currently incarcerated on death row.
Documented Arrests, Charges and Convictions
Dispositions are shown exactly as the cited records report them. Pending charges are updated when a court acts; a record with no remaining conviction or pending charge is removed from the site.
Offense date Mar 20, 1980, Springfield, Ohio
Cruelty to animals
Springfield Police Department · Local court, Springfield, Ohio · Ohio animal cruelty statute · Arrested Mar 20, 1980 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Unknown
On March 20, 1980, two days before his 18th birthday, Sapp was arrested in Springfield and charged with cruelty to animals. He had killed his stepson's pet rabbit.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Sapp, William; William Sapp (serial killer)
Offense date Aug 22, 1992, Springfield, Ohio
Abuse of a corpse (Morrow/Leach)
Clark County Sheriff, Springfield Police Department · Clark County Common Pleas Court · Docket Case No. 2003-0135 · Ohio Revised Code 2927.01(B) · Arrested Feb 27, 1996 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Concurrent term
Bodies of both victims were concealed and moved.
SourcesSTATE v. SAPP (2004) Supreme Court of Ohio
Offense date Aug 22, 1992, Springfield, Ohio
Kidnapping (Martha Leach)
Clark County Sheriff, Springfield Police Department · Clark County Common Pleas Court · Docket Case No. 2003-0135 · Ohio Revised Code 2905.01 · Arrested Feb 27, 1996 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Consecutive term
On August 22, 1992, an 11-year-old girl was abducted from near Schuler's Bakery in Springfield and taken to a pond where she was raped and murdered.
SourcesSTATE v. SAPP (2004) Supreme Court of Ohio
Offense date Aug 22, 1992, Springfield, Ohio
Tampering with evidence (Morrow/Leach crime scene)
Clark County Sheriff, Springfield Police Department · Clark County Common Pleas Court · Docket Case No. 2003-0135 · Ohio Revised Code 2921.12(A)(1) · Arrested Feb 27, 1996 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Concurrent term
Bodies and evidence were concealed with wooden pallets, branches, and leaves; clothing and bicycles were placed in a storm sewer to obscure the crime.
SourcesSTATE v. SAPP (2004) Supreme Court of Ohio
Offense date Aug 22, 1992, Springfield, Ohio
Kidnapping (Phree Morrow)
Clark County Sheriff, Springfield Police Department · Clark County Common Pleas Court · Docket Case No. 2003-0135 · Ohio Revised Code 2905.01 · Arrested Feb 27, 1996 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Consecutive term
On August 22, 1992, a 12-year-old girl was abducted from near Schuler's Bakery in Springfield and taken to a pond where she was raped and murdered.
SourcesSTATE v. SAPP (2004) Supreme Court of Ohio
Offense date Aug 22, 1992, Springfield, Ohio
Aggravated murder during kidnapping (Martha Leach)
Clark County Sheriff, Springfield Police Department · Clark County Common Pleas Court · Docket Case No. 2003-0135 · Ohio Revised Code 2903.01(B) · Arrested Feb 27, 1996 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Death penalty
On August 22, 1992, an 11-year-old girl was abducted near Schuler's Bakery in Springfield with a 12-year-old friend. Sapp and accomplices took her to a pond and raped her. After the initial victim was beaten, this victim was struck multiple times in the head with rocks by Sapp and others, causing blunt-force trauma and skull fractures.
SourcesSTATE v. SAPP (2004) Supreme Court of Ohio; State v. Sapp; Phree Natasha Morrow (1980-1992) - Find a Grave Memorial
Offense date Aug 22, 1992, Springfield, Ohio
Aggravated murder during kidnapping (Phree Morrow)
Clark County Sheriff, Springfield Police Department · Clark County Common Pleas Court · Docket Case No. 2003-0135 · Ohio Revised Code 2903.01(B) · Arrested Feb 27, 1996 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Death penalty
On August 22, 1992, a 12-year-old girl was abducted near Schuler's Bakery in Springfield with an 11-year-old friend. Sapp and accomplices lured the girls to a pond, raped both children, and beat them to death with rocks. Bodies were concealed with wooden pallets, branches, and leaves; victim's bicycle and clothing placed in storm sewer.
SourcesSTATE v. SAPP (2004) Supreme Court of Ohio; State v. Sapp; Phree Natasha Morrow (1980-1992) - Find a Grave Memorial
Offense date Aug 22, 1992, Springfield, Ohio
Rape of child (Martha Leach)
Clark County Sheriff, Springfield Police Department · Clark County Common Pleas Court · Docket Case No. 2003-0135 · Ohio Revised Code 2907.02; with force specification · Arrested Feb 27, 1996 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Consecutive term with death penalty
On August 22, 1992, Sapp raped an 11-year-old girl at a pond near Schuler's Bakery in Springfield. FBI DNA analysis confirmed his semen in samples from the victim's body.
SourcesSTATE v. SAPP (2004) Supreme Court of Ohio
Offense date Aug 22, 1992, Springfield, Ohio
Rape of child (Phree Morrow)
Clark County Sheriff, Springfield Police Department · Clark County Common Pleas Court · Docket Case No. 2003-0135 · Ohio Revised Code 2907.02; with force specification · Arrested Feb 27, 1996 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Consecutive term with death penalty
On August 22, 1992, Sapp raped a 12-year-old girl at a pond near Schuler's Bakery in Springfield. FBI DNA analysis confirmed his semen in samples from the victim's body.
SourcesSTATE v. SAPP (2004) Supreme Court of Ohio
Offense date Sep 08, 1993, Springfield, Ohio
Aggravated murder during kidnapping (Belinda Anderson)
Clark County Sheriff, Springfield Police Department · Clark County Common Pleas Court · Docket Case No. 2003-0135 · Ohio Revised Code 2903.01(B) · Arrested Feb 27, 1996 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Death penalty
On September 8, 1993, Sapp met a 31-year-old woman, propositioned her for sex, and lured her to a garage. He struck her in the head with a pipe, threw her against a wall, and beat her to death. He raped her after death, cut her clothing with a knife, wrapped her body in plastic bags, and buried her beneath the floor of a neighbor's abandoned garage where she remained hidden until 1995.
SourcesSTATE v. SAPP (2004) Supreme Court of Ohio; State v. Sapp
Offense date Sep 08, 1993, Springfield, Ohio
Rape of an adult woman (Belinda Anderson)
Clark County Sheriff, Springfield Police Department · Clark County Common Pleas Court · Docket Case No. 2003-0135 · Ohio Revised Code 2907.02; with force specification · Arrested Feb 27, 1996 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Consecutive term with death penalty
On September 8, 1993, Sapp raped a 31-year-old woman in a garage in Springfield before murdering her.
SourcesSTATE v. SAPP (2004) Supreme Court of Ohio
Offense date Dec 07, 1993, Springfield, Ohio
Attempted aggravated murder of Hazel Pearson
Clark County Sheriff, Springfield Police Department · Clark County Common Pleas Court · Docket Case No. 2003-0135 · Ohio Revised Code 2903.02 · Arrested Feb 27, 1996 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Concurrent term
On December 7, 1993, Sapp approached an adult woman who had left a bar upset over boyfriend troubles. He raped her and attempted to strangle her with steel cable. She was found by employees in a parking lot at Clark State Community College in downtown Springfield and survived.
SourcesSTATE v. SAPP (2004) Supreme Court of Ohio; State v. Sapp
Offense date Dec 07, 1993, Springfield, Ohio
Rape of an adult woman (Hazel Pearson)
Clark County Sheriff, Springfield Police Department · Clark County Common Pleas Court · Docket Case No. 2003-0135 · Ohio Revised Code 2907.02; with force specification · Arrested Feb 27, 1996 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Concurrent term
On December 7, 1993, Sapp raped an adult woman in Springfield.
SourcesSTATE v. SAPP (2004) Supreme Court of Ohio
Offense date Feb 25, 1996, Springfield, Ohio
Attempted rape and assault of Una Timmons
Springfield Police Department · Clark County Common Pleas Court · Ohio Revised Code 2907.02 · Arrested Feb 27, 1996 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: 15 to 55 years imprisonment
On February 25, 1996, Sapp offered a ride to an adult woman, smoked crack cocaine with her, and then stabbed and beat her multiple times. She was found on the side of Interstate 70 with serious injuries. This assault led to Sapp's arrest and DNA testing that linked him to the 1992 and 1993 murders.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Sapp, William; William Sapp (serial killer)
Pattern and Background
Victim counts and the pattern of the offenses as stated by courts, agencies and the cited reporting. Suspected counts are what officials have said publicly, not a finding of this site.
3
Victims convicted
4
Victims confessed
0
Victims suspected
Active years
1992–1996
Stated motive
Sexual, Anger or revenge
Range from home
local
Accomplice
Yes
Confessed
Yes
Cooperated with investigators
Yes
Marital history
Married
Children
3
Agencies
Law enforcement, prosecutors and corrections agencies the records show dealing with this person. An investigator working a case with a possible connection can start here.
Clark County Sheriff's Office · OH
Investigated and charged Sapp for murders of Morrow, Leach, and Anderson; kidnappings; rapes; and tampering with evidence (1992-1993)
Source: Grokipedia, Murderpedia, Wikipedia
Ross Correctional Institution · OH
High-security facility holding Sapp on death row since 2024 relocation from Chillicothe Correctional Institution
Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction · OH
Manages adult prison system; currently holds Sapp in death row custody at Ross Correctional Institution (as of 2024 relocation)
Clark County Prosecuting Attorney's Office · OH
Prosecuted all felony charges resulting from crimes in Clark County; secured multiple convictions and death sentence
Source: Supreme Court of Ohio, FindLaw/Ohio Supreme Court, CourtListener, Vlex/Clark County Court of Appeals
Springfield Police Department · OH
Arrested Sapp; handled investigations of 1980 animal cruelty charge and multiple murder/rape/kidnapping cases from 1992-1996
Source: Grokipedia, Murderpedia, Wikipedia
Places Lived, Worked and Frequented
Each place and date range comes from a cited record. Dates marked approximate are as reported. Know a place that is missing? Use Edit record under the photo; a moderator reviews it before it appears.
FL
Jacksonville, Florida
approx. 1981 – 1991 · Lived in Jacksonville after leaving Ohio in 1980; adopted by Al Sapp
OH
Springfield, Ohio
approx. 1962 – 1980 · Born in Springfield, lived with parents and then stepmother
Springfield, Ohio
approx. 1971 – 1980 · Children's Home/Foster care
Springfield, Ohio
approx. 1991 – 1996 · Returned to Springfield, Ohio from Florida
Springfield, Ohio
approx. 1991 – 1996 · Various odd jobs, housework, collecting scrap metal
Springfield, Ohio
Feb 27, 1996 – Oct 04, 1996 · Clark County Jail, Springfield, Ohio - pending trial
Mansfield, Ohio
approx. Oct 04, 1996 – 2005 · Mansfield Correctional Institution, Ohio - death row inmate
Chillicothe, Ohio
approx. 2012 – present · Ross Correctional Institution (formerly Chillicothe Correctional Institution), Ohio - death row inmate
Timeline
Mar 22, 1962
William Kessler Lilly born in Springfield, Ohio to Kessler B. Lilly, Sr. and Margaret Lilly.
1971
Sapp's father divorced his mother; Sapp and his brother sent to children's home.
1972
Children's Services documented that Sapp had hostility toward all women he came in contact with.
1980
Sapp's mother gave him bus fare and told him to leave Springfield.
Mar 20, 1980
Sapp arrested in Springfield two days before his 18th birthday and charged with cruelty to animals.
1981
Sapp moved to Jacksonville, Florida and was adopted by Al Sapp; legally changed last name to Sapp.
Apr 14, 1981
Sapp claims he killed Shirley Ogden in Jacksonville, Florida, but was never charged with this offense.
1982
Sapp reported raped while in prison in Florida.
1988
Sapp met and married Karen Sapp.
Sep 26, 1991
Sapp set a log cabin on fire near his father's house in Ohio after returning from Florida.
Aug 22, 1992
Sapp and accomplices raped and murdered 12-year-old Phree Morrow and 11-year-old Martha Leach near Schuler's Bakery in Springfield, Ohio.
Aug 23, 1992
Bodies of Morrow and Leach found in pond behind Penn Street in Springfield; located by Kyle Cox and brother.
Sep 08, 1993
Sapp raped and murdered 31-year-old Belinda Anderson in Springfield, Ohio.
Dec 07, 1993
Sapp raped and attempted to murder adult woman Hazel Pearson in Springfield, Ohio.
1995
Body of Belinda Anderson discovered buried beneath floor of garage on South Fountain Avenue in Springfield, Ohio.
Feb 25, 1996
Sapp stabbed and beat Una Timmons after offering her a ride and smoking crack cocaine with her; she was found on Interstate 70.
Feb 27, 1996
Sapp arrested and pleaded not guilty to attempted murder charges in Una Timmons case; bond set to $100,000.
Mar 04, 1996
Sapp indicted on charges for attempted murder of Una Timmons and pleaded innocent by reason of insanity.
Sep 26, 1996
Police detectives from Jacksonville, Florida came to Springfield to question Sapp about unrelated matter; Sapp admitted to assaulting Hazel Pearson and murdering Shirley Ogden in Florida; FBI DNA confirmed his involvement in Morrow-Leach murders.
Sep 27, 1996
Sapp's blood and DNA taken and sent to FBI for analysis.
Oct 04, 1996
Sapp admitted to incarceration at Mansfield Correctional Institution.
Apr 02, 1997
Sapp interviewed by Springfield police for 18.5 hours; confessed to crimes against Morrow, Leach, Anderson, and attempted murder of Pearson.
Apr 07, 1997
Sapp indicted on 9 counts of aggravated murder, 4 counts of rape, 4 counts of kidnapping, 3 counts of tampering with evidence, 3 counts of abuse of a corpse, and 2 counts of arson.
Jun 1997
Defense attorney Sharon Opingto requested reassignment due to threatening letters from Sapp; replaced by Gary Hruska.
Sep 13, 1999
Jury trial began for Sapp.
Oct 08, 1999
Sapp found guilty on 27 counts including 3 murders and one attempted murder.
Oct 21, 1999
Sapp given 3 death sentences.
Nov 08, 1999
Sapp transferred to death row.
Mar 23, 2000
Motion filed for Sapp for stay of execution to appeal convictions and death sentence.
Dec 13, 2002
Clark County Court of Appeals affirmed Sapp's convictions and death sentences.
Dec 29, 2004
Ohio Supreme Court unanimously affirmed Sapp's convictions and death sentences.
Sources
Solve the Case is never the original source. Each item below is the public record a statement on this page rests on, with an archived copy where one exists.
News report · Murderpedia ·
William Sapp“Sapp was connected to the rapes and murders through DNA testing in 1996. Between 1993 and 1995, Sapp murdered 31-year-old Belinda Anderson and buried her body in a garage floor. Sapp was also convicted for the 1993 attempted murder of Hazel Pearson.”
News report · Find a Grave ·
Phree Natasha Morrow (1980-1992) - Find a Grave Memorial“Phree and her best friend, 11-year-old Martha Leach, were abducted, raped and slain while on their way to Martha's house from a downtown bakery in Springfield, Ohio on August 22nd, 1992.”
Other · Radford University Department of Psychology ·
Radford University serial killer biography: Sapp, William“William Kessler Sapp, aka William Kessler Lilly was born in Springfield, OH; convicted of aggravated murders, rapes, kidnapping, tampering with evidence, and abuse of corpse.”
News report · Grokipedia ·
William Sapp (serial killer)“On February 25, 1996, William Sapp offered Una Gail Timmons a ride in Springfield, Ohio, after which they smoked crack cocaine together; he subsequently beat and stabbed her multiple times before abandoning her alongside Interstate 70.”
News report · Wikipedia ·
William Sapp (serial killer)“William Kessler Sapp (born William Kessler Lilly; March 22, 1962) is an American serial killer and rapist who committed the murders of three women and girls in Springfield, Ohio, in 1992 and 1993, the attempted murder of another, and a possible fourth murder in Florida. He was sentenced to death on October 21, 1999, and is currently awaiting execution at the Ross Correctional Institution.”
Offender registry · Death Row USA ·
DEATH ROW OHIO - William Sapp“William K. Sapp #337278 [...] I was born on March 22rd 1963. I'm 5'8"; blonde hair; blue eyes. I'm 210 and workout daily. I came to prison on February 1996. However I come to Death Row on November 08th 1999.”
Court record · Supreme Court of Ohio ·
Death Penalty Affirmed for Springfield Serial Killer“The Supreme Court of Ohio today unanimously affirmed the convictions and death sentence of William Sapp of Springfield for the August 1992 kidnapping, rape and aggravated murders of Phree Morrow and Martha Leach and the September 1993 assault and murder of Belinda Anderson.”
Court record · FindLaw/Ohio Supreme Court ·
STATE v. SAPP (2004) Supreme Court of Ohio“On August 22, 1992, appellant, William K. Sapp, raped and murdered Phree Morrow, age 12, and Martha Leach, age 11. A year and 17 days later, Sapp raped and murdered Belinda Anderson. About three months after he murdered Anderson, Sapp raped and attempted to murder another adult woman, Hazel Pearson. Sapp was sentenced to death for the murders of Phree, Martha, and Anderson.”
Court record · CourtListener ·
State v. Sapp“On August 22, 1992, appellant, William K. Sapp, raped and murdered Phree Morrow, age 12, and Martha Leach, age 11. A year and 17 days later, Sapp raped and murdered Belinda Anderson, an adult woman.”
Court record · Vlex/Clark County Court of Appeals ·
State v. William K. Sapp (2002 Ohio 6863)“William K. Sapp appeals from his convictions and sentences in the Clark County Common Pleas Court on nine counts of aggravated murder with death penalty specifications, two counts of attempted aggravated murder, four counts of rape with force specifications, four counts of kidnapping, three counts of tampering with evidence, and three counts of abuse of a corpse.”
News report · Dayton Daily News ·
Man indicted in 3 deaths“William Sapp, who is serving a prison sentence for assaulting and attempting to rape a Springfield woman in 1993, was charged Monday with murdering three other Springfield residents, including two girls near downtown Springfield.”
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