31-year-old Ray Armstrong, an accomplished model and dancer, is charged will killing Williams. Over the years the Greys Ferry man photographed, befriended, helped and sometimes housed the young model.
Williams was known as a kind-hearted person who shared his home with people who needed somewhere to stay.
Neighbors suspect the talented but troubled Armstrong snapped while he was under the influence of what smelled like a formaldehyde laced marijuana cigar when the victim would not let him live in his Wilder Street rowhome again.
Armstrong's girlfriend reportedly kicked him out.
"Ray did not want to hear that, he was just so hostile. You could hear the conversation through the phone," said neighbor Tonja Bell.
"I guess, under the influence, you don't know what the hell somebody might do," said neighbor Benita Dixon. "This guy didn't mess with anybody. He was a very nice neighbor."
Later that night Armstrong allegedly kicked out his own car windows. Williams took him inside reportedly to use a cold shower to snap his friend back to reality.
Within minutes, a wet and naked Armstrong reportedly ran back outside and lay praying on the ground until a neighbor approached.
"She said that's when he jumped up and said don't go in there I just killed Anthony," Bell said.
Police found Anthony Williams dead on the living room floor. He'd been beaten and strangled.
The tragedy devastated Williams' colleagues at Central City Toyota where he was a well liked assistant service manager.
"You could certainly say to someone 'Don't open your home, don't help that person.' But I think that would be a sheer violation of Anthony's legacy. His legacy is to help people," said Jamie Haberle of Central City Toyota.
Williams was buried on Saturday. Armstrong awaits a preliminary hearing.
