Aaron Williams, 21, appeared in district court in Story County on Tuesday to plead guilty to lesser charges in the case. He was originally charged with first-degree kidnapping and willful injury causing serious injury. In September, the kidnapping charge was amended to third-degree.
As part of the plea deal, Williams has agreed to testify against his co-defendants. He was charged along with his mother Danielle K. Graham, stepfather Gary Graham, and sister Kaitlynn Williams in March. Investigators with the Story County Sheriff’s Office said the victim, identified in court documents as the 18-year-old son of Danielle Graham , “suffered severe and life-threatening injuries from abuse, including a brain bleed, rib fractures, wounds in multiple stages of healing, and weighed 70 pounds due to severe malnourishment.”
Gary Graham Jr., Danielle Graham, Aaron Williams, Kaitlynn Williams
The deal also includes a 10-year prison term on each offense, to be served consecutively, not to exceed 20 years. Williams must also obtain a mental health evaluation while in prison and complete the recommended treatment. A five-year no-contact order preventing Williams from contacting the victim is part of the deal as well. In addition, he must pay various fines, fees, and court-related costs.
Judge Angela Doyle accepted Williams’ guilty plea during Tuesday’s hearing, though she is not bound by the agreement that was made between prosecutors and the defense when it comes time to issue a sentence.
A date for sentencing has not yet been scheduled.
Gary Graham’s trial is set for December 3rd and Danielle Graham’s trial is scheduled to start March 4th, 2025. Kaitlynn Williams, who was 16 at the time of her arrest, attempted to have her trial moved to juvenile court but the effort was denied and she will be tried as an adult . Her trial is scheduled for January 28th, 2025.
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