← Back to United States casesWilliam Clifford Hayes and John Whitmeyer Allegedly Murdered by Ada Laverne Hayes Wittenmyer, Fairview, Tennessee, United States
Case Summary
William Clifford Hayes died on July 22, 1974, after a prolonged illness that reportedly improved in hospital and worsened at home. Investigators later concluded that he had ingested arsenic, and suspicion focused on his wife, Ada Laverne Hayes Wittenmyer, amid reported marital strain and preparations involving insurance and assets. After Ada's second husband, John Whitmeyer, died in Oklahoma under circumstances involving a handwritten will benefiting Ada, investigators connected the cases. William's body was exhumed in 1979 and forensic testing reportedly identified fatal arsenic poisoning. Ada was convicted of William's murder in 1984 and sentenced to life imprisonment; she reportedly died by suicide one week later.
Basic Information
Country: United States
State/Province: Tennessee, United States
City/Region: Fairview
Incident Type: Domestic Violence Homicide
Relationship Status: Married
Relationship Duration: Approximately 3 years (marriage)
Affair / New-Partner Context
Recorded context: New relationship started
Reported initiator: Alleged suspect / offender
Relationship timing: After separation, before divorce was finalized
Incident Date: July 22, 1974
Incident Sequence and Additional Victims
Primary reported outcome: Homicide
Reported self-harm outcome: Completed suicide
Person(s) reported to have died by or attempted suicide: Ada Laverne Hayes Wittenmyer
Reported role: Alleged suspect / offender
Reported sequence: Homicide or serious injury, then suicide or attempt
Additional victims reported: 1
Additional victim events:
- John Whitmeyer — Romantic rival; Killed; Before self-harm
Relationship Journey
Relationship Origins:
- Met online / Email / Website
- Met at Workplace
Relationship Stages:
- Married Living Together
- Separated
- Arragned Marriage
Analysis
Contributing Factors:
- Financial Issues
- Domestic Conflict
- Money / Financial Gain
- Divorce / Separation
- Suspicion of infidelity
Red Flags:
- Secretive communication patterns
- Financial secrecy
- Sudden change in routine or habits
- Deception after incident
- Escalation Pattern / Violence
- Suspects identified
- Missing Suspect
Motives:
- Money / Financial Gain
- Insurance money
- Avoid divorce settlement
- Property Gain
Relationship Outcomes:
- Legal case ongoing
- Homicide before divorce
- Homicide during marriage
- Arrest made
- Investigation still ongoing
- Deadbody recovery
- Suicide
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People Link Graph
William Clifford Hayes and John Whitmeyer Allegedly Murdered by Ada Laverne Hayes Wittenmyer, Fairview, Tennessee, United States
Relationship Journey Graph
Origin
- Met online / Email / Website
- Met at Workplace
How the relationship or connection began.
Status
- Married
Approximately 3 years (marriage)
Stages
- Married Living Together
- Separated
- Arragned Marriage
Important relationship phases recorded for this case.
Warning Signals
- Secretive communication patterns
- Financial secrecy
- Sudden change in routine or habits
- Deception after incident
- Escalation Pattern / Violence
- Suspects identified
- Missing Suspect
Reported red flags or early concern points.
Pressure Points
- Financial Issues
- Domestic Conflict
- Money / Financial Gain
- Divorce / Separation
- Suspicion of infidelity
- Money / Financial Gain
- Insurance money
- Avoid divorce settlement
- Property Gain
Contributing factors and possible motives from the available sources.
Incident
1974-07-22
Outcome
- Legal case ongoing
- Homicide before divorce
- Homicide during marriage
- Arrest made
- Investigation still ongoing
- Deadbody recovery
- Suicide
Recorded relationship or case outcome.
AI Intelligence Assessment
Relationship Pattern
Financial Conflict
Pattern Analysis
The source portrays the relationship as involving reported financial targeting, marital strain, and alleged poisoning within marriage. Ada reportedly focused on insurance, assets, and wills while William experienced a prolonged illness that improved away from home. The later death of John Whitmeyer under similar circumstances reportedly strengthened the investigative theory of a serial relationship-based financial pattern.
Investigative Notes
William Hayes died in 1974 and was initially not known to have been poisoned. After John Whitmeyer died in Oklahoma and a handwritten will reportedly benefited Ada, Oklahoma investigators contacted Tennessee authorities and William's daughter. A court-authorized exhumation in 1979 reportedly found little decomposition, and a forensic report attributed William's death to arsenic ingestion. Ada was extradited to Oklahoma on a murder charge involving John Whitmeyer and later tried in Tennessee for William's murder. The source reports a 1984 conviction and life sentence, followed by Ada's reported suicide in custody one week later.
Investigation Confusion
William's illness was not initially identified as poisoning, and hospital personnel reportedly did not investigate the cause of death at the time. The investigation later developed across Tennessee and Oklahoma after John Whitmeyer's death, a disputed or uncertain will history, and Ada's departure from Oklahoma. The source also describes uncertainty surrounding Ada's claimed insanity and alleged courtroom performances.
Case Reconstruction / Puzzle Pieces
William and Ada married in 1971 and reportedly experienced marital strain after several years. William developed severe recurring illness, improving in hospital and worsening at home; his daughter Jeanette became suspicious. He died in 1974 and was buried without an identified poisoning diagnosis. After Ada's later husband John Whitmeyer died in Oklahoma following the preparation of a will benefiting Ada, investigators revisited William's death, obtained an exhumation order, and reported forensic evidence of arsenic poisoning. Ada was prosecuted, convicted in 1984, and later reportedly died by suicide in custody.
Risk Assessment
The reported risk indicators included financial preoccupation, marital deterioration, suspected poisoning in the home, repeated illness that improved in hospital, a later death of another husband, and alleged deceptive conduct with additional romantic contacts. The source does not provide a complete history of prior domestic violence or direct threats before William's death.
Key Takeaways
The case illustrates how a delayed forensic review and a later relationship-connected death can reopen an apparently natural death. Important comparison signals include illness that varies by location, unexplained financial or estate preparation, rapid movement after a partner's death, and repeated romantic targeting of people with assets. The source presents these as reported case indicators rather than a complete behavioral profile.
AI Case Q&A
What early signals mattered most?
The most important reported early signals were William's repeated illness, improvement when hospitalized, worsening after returning home, inability to eat, and Jeanette's concern about the pattern. Marital strain and Ada's reported efforts to organize insurance and assets were also significant according to the source.
Which clues helped connect the case?
The reported clues included the hospital-home illness pattern, Jeanette's suspicions, the later Oklahoma death of John Whitmeyer, a handwritten will benefiting Ada, Ada's departure from Oklahoma despite instructions to remain, and the forensic findings from William's exhumation.
Which evidence types appeared strongest?
The strongest reported evidence was the court-authorized exhumation, the preserved condition of William's body, the forensic report identifying arsenic ingestion, the Oklahoma circumstances involving John Whitmeyer's death and will, and testimony from a woman who allegedly heard Ada discuss the murders and an insanity defense.
Witness / Eyewitness Statements
Jeanette reportedly questioned why William improved in hospital but became ill at home. Investigators described the exhumation and forensic findings. Linda Mayo reportedly heard Ada claim that she was pregnant by Jesus. A witness brought to trial reportedly testified that Ada discussed the murders and planned to pretend to be insane. A man contacted during the trial reportedly said he had met Ada through a lonely-hearts service and had corresponded with her.
How did follow-up reports change the understanding?
Follow-up reporting changed the case from an initially unexplained or apparently natural death to a suspected arsenic homicide after John Whitmeyer's death prompted investigators to revisit William's case. The exhumation and forensic report reportedly established the poisoning theory. Later trial testimony and the reported conviction further changed the legal understanding, while Ada's death in custody ended further proceedings against her.
What remained unclear?
The source does not provide a complete account of the original medical investigation, the precise delivery of every dose, or the full legal disposition of the Oklahoma case. It also does not independently establish the identities of all potential victims or clarify the precise circumstances of Ada's death beyond the reported hanging. Claims about her motives, manipulation, and mental state are presented through narration and witness accounts rather than a complete clinical assessment.