William H. James was a 73-year-old retired war veteran from Jacksonville, Florida, who died on April 6, 1988. His death at the New Life Acres nursing home in Melrose was initially presumed natural but was later determined to be a homicide. James was one of several elderly residents killed at the facility during 1988–1989.

The perpetrator was Jeffrey Lynn Feltner, a nurse’s aide employed at New Life Acres. Feltner confessed to smothering seven patients, including William James, saying he acted to end their suffering; he later recanted at trial, claiming the confessions were fabricated to draw attention to poor conditions. Feltner ultimately pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder in a plea deal and received life imprisonment. He died in custody on March 17, 1993.

The deaths exposed serious oversight failures at the nursing home and prompted questions about abuse in elder care settings. If anyone knew William James or has information about conditions at New Life Acres, please share what is known.