The case involves the deaths of a mother, her pregnant teenage daughter, her son and an unborn child.
MOBILE, Ala. — A Mobile County judge denied bond Thursday for William Graham Oliver, the man charged in the killings of three family members found dead inside a Wilmer home.
Oliver, 54, faces eight counts of capital murder in the deaths of Lisa Gail Fields, 46, her daughter Keziah Arionna Luker, 17, and her son Thomas Cordelle Jr., 12. Luker was eight months pregnant, and prosecutors said the death of her unborn child is part of the capital case. Oliver has pleaded not guilty.
The bond hearing offered one of the clearest public looks so far at the prosecution’s theory. Mobile County District Attorney Keith Blackwood said four of the charges are connected to an alleged burglary. He said evidence from the scene suggested Oliver may have entered the home intending to commit a burglary, though he said investigators are still weighing possible motives.
Authorities have described a violent scene inside the family’s home. The three victims were found in separate rooms with their hands tied behind their backs. Prosecutors said Fields and Cordelle had severe knife wounds, while Luker was shot in the head. An 18-month-old child was found alive and unharmed inside the home.
Defense attorney Bucky Thomas said Oliver denies the allegations. Thomas told reporters that he met with Oliver before the hearing and that the defense is early in its review. “He of course is maintaining his innocence,” Thomas said, adding that there is still much the defense does not know about the evidence.
The killings drew heavy attention across Mobile County because of the ages of the victims and the level of violence described by investigators. Sheriff’s officials have said Oliver knew the family, and investigators had focused on people connected to the home before the arrest. Family members have mourned Fields, Luker and Cordelle as relatives prepared funeral services and gathered around the surviving child.
Blackwood said his office intends to seek the death penalty. He said the wishes of relatives were considered, but prosecutors also looked at the facts alleged in the case. The decision means Oliver’s case is expected to move through a longer capital process, including hearings on evidence, defense motions and any future indictment.
Oliver will remain jailed without bond. His next scheduled court date is May 21 for a preliminary hearing, where prosecutors may present more details about the evidence and the alleged burglary motive.
Author note: Last updated May 1, 2026.