Debilleanne Williamson

Debilleanne Williamson, known to her loved ones as “Dee Dee,” was a mother living in Windsor, Ontario. She had friends on both sides of the Canadian-U.S. border and was raising her four-year-old son, Xavier Brandon Rucker. The double homicide of the female victim and her young child in their own home has remained a painful open wound for their family and the community for two decades.

On February 27, 2003, a horrific discovery was made at the family’s residence at 1323 Tilston Drive. After being unable to reach her, Dee Dee’s sister went to the house to check on her. Inside, she found a brutal and heartbreaking scene. Dee Dee had been severely beaten to death and was found in the basement of the home. Her little boy, Xavier, was found deceased in a bathroom on the main floor. For investigative reasons, police have never publicly disclosed how the child was killed.

The Windsor Police Service immediately launched a homicide investigation. Detectives learned that Dee Dee had an active social life and connections in both Windsor and nearby Detroit, Michigan. The investigation expanded to include persons of interest in both cities, and Windsor police have worked with their counterparts in Detroit. Over the years, investigators have identified numerous persons of interest. According to the lead investigator on the case, some were easily ruled out, while others have not been. Through the use of DNA evidence, police were able to clear several individuals, but a few remain strong persons of interest.

Despite the ongoing investigation, no arrests have ever been made, and police have not publicly established a motive for the vicious crime. For the family, the lack of answers has been a source of constant pain. At a press conference on the 20th anniversary of the murders, Dee Dee's niece, Nike Williamson, spoke about the enduring impact of the loss. "Twenty years is a very long time of not knowing and unanswered questions," she said, explaining that although she was young when it happened, the tragedy is on her mind every day.

In an effort to generate new leads, the Windsor Police Service and the Windsor Police Services Board have repeatedly increased the reward for information. In 2019, the reward was doubled to $20,000. Then, on the 20th anniversary of the killings in February 2023, the reward was doubled again. Police officials and the Williamson family announced a $40,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person or people responsible for the deaths of Dee Dee and Xavier. At the time, it was the highest reward offered for any active Windsor police investigation.

"There are people out there who know who is responsible for this double murder or who have information that can help us solve this crime," said Daniel Potvin, the superintendent in charge of investigations, in a February 2023 statement. "We hope the additional reward money will provide the incentive these people need to come forward and tell what they know. Even a small piece of information that someone thinks is trivial be the missing evidence that allows our investigations to connect the dots and finally solve this mystery."

As of February 2023, the case remains unsolved, but investigators are still hopeful that a crucial tip will finally bring justice for Debilleanne Williamson and Xavier Rucker. The $40,000 reward remains active. Anyone with information about this double homicide is urged to contact the Windsor Police Service Major Crimes Unit at 519-255-6700, ext. 4830. To remain anonymous, tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 519-258-8477.