REDDING, Calif. (AP) -- Two brothers suspected of killing a gay couple near this rural Northern California town have been linked to arson attacks at three Sacramento synagogues that caused over $1 million in damages, and investigators have seized white supremacist literature from their home.
Benjamin Matthew Williams, 31, and James Tyler Williams, 29, were arraigned Friday on charges of receiving stolen property that prosecutors said was linked to slaying victims Gary Matson and Winfield Scott Mowder in Happy Valley.On Saturday, Shasta County Sheriff's Capt. Ron Richardson confirmed a link between the brothers and evidence pointing to the June 18 synagogue fires. Literature espousing white supremacist beliefs was found at the brothers' home outside Redding, he said.
Authorities searched the brothers' house and brought out several bags of evidence, and a van from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms was parked nearby.
Neighbor Beatrice Stansbury said the brothers were "very quiet, very clean cut."
"We'd see the lights on late at night, but we didn't think anything of it. We never had any problem with them," she said.
Ed Smith, who owns the Palo Cedro nursery where the older Williams brother worked two years ago, said the brothers were deeply religious.
Smith said he warned Benjamin Williams, known by his middle name Matthew, not to impose his religious beliefs on the customers. Smith also drew the line when he talked about taxation and the government.
"He'd rant and rave about things just like anybody else," Smith told the San Francisco Chronicle. "I told him, he has opinions, but this is a business. I want it separated."
The two were arrested Wednesday in Yuba City. They are being held in lieu of $150,000 bail each.
Richardson said a credit card belonging to one of the murder victims was used to make a purchase for delivery to a Yuba City business.