On August 11, 2014, Williams’ body was discovered at his Paradise Cay, California, residence. Williams died by suicide from “asphyxia related to hanging,” according to the final autopsy report, which was published in November 2014.
There was no use of alcohol or illicit substances, and any prescription medications that were in his system were at therapeutic doses. Williams was diagnosed with anxiety and depression, according to the article.
Williams was diagnosed with “diffuse Lewy body dementia” after a brain biopsy.
Susan Schneider Williams, his widow, referred to his prior Parkinson’s diagnosis and described the illness as “the terrorist inside my husband’s brain,” adding that “anyway you look at it the presence of Lewy bodies stole his life.”
