MCARTHUR — No charges will be filed arising from the death investigation of a Thurman man who law enforcement authorities said died of a drug overdose last summer.
The autopsy revealed that Travis Dakota Williams, 28, died from methamphetamine intoxication, according to a joint press release issued Friday afternoon by the Vinton County Sheriff’s Office, Vinton County Prosecutor’s Office, and the McArthur Police Department.
Williams’ father Travis Williams has made allegations that he posted to social media that say his son was tortured, put in a cage, beaten, and nearly buried alive before being allowed to escape before he died. He said a video exists that shows what happened.
For several weeks last summer, people protested in front of the Vinton County Courthouse and calling for justice after Williams’ death.
On July 27 of 2023, McArthur Police were dispatched around 7:40 a.m. to 411 South Market Street after receiving a report of a man, later identified as Williams, acting strangely, lying in the yard, rolling around and talking erratically.
EMS transported Williams to Holzer Hospital in Jackson where he was later pronounced dead.
Williams’ body was sent to the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office for an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
The toxicology report indicated a high level of methamphetamine in Williams’ blood system, according to the press release.
“Pursuant to the findings of the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office Postmortem Examination, there is no evidence of other causes of death except the drug overdose, and therefore, there will be no charges involving the death of Travis ‘Dakota’ Williams,” the press release said.
The postmortem report indicated superficial injuries to Williams’ face, legs, feet, back, and left shoulder. The only broken bones were the sternum and ribs which the Coroner stated could have been consistent with recent cardiopulmonary resuscitation efforts. There were no injuries consistent with forced or involuntary drug use, according to the press release.
The Ohio Attorney General’s Office Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI) was contacted to assist in the investigation.
Citing “...the type and level of the alleged offense, available evidence, solvability factors and prosecution concerns and limitations,” BCI declined to investigate the matter, according to the press release.
Investigations by the Vinton County Sheriff’s Office and McArthur Police Department have uncovered evidence of various prior incidents involving Williams.
On July 21, 2023, Williams was allegedly assaulted by his girlfriend Amanda Combs, causing broken ribs, according to the press release.
That case is currently pending in the Vinton County Court.
According to the press release, Williams’ family described another incident involving Williams and Combs in which she allegedly ran over Williams’s leg and feet area a few weeks before his death — a case that was handled by the Wellston Police Department.
When the Sheriff’s Office arrested James Darrell Ray Coleman, 40, on Aug. 2, 2023, he was charged with felonious assault in relation to the case. Coleman’s case was dismissed for possible presentation to the Grand Jury, Vinton County Prosecutor Bill Archer said.
Miles Layton is Region Editor for APG Ohio.
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