The Idaho Indeterminate Sentence Review Board will reschedule a parole hearing for Arbie Williams, the convicted killer of 15-year-old Linda Strait, after Williams chose not to appear at his April 8 hearing — a decision his family says he has made repeatedly and intends to continue making. The case, which has drawn ongoing attention from Linda’s family and the public, centers on whether a man who committed rape and murder in North Idaho-connected courts should be considered for release despite his own stated desire to remain incarcerated.
Background: A Decades-Long Case with a DNA Break
Williams was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison for the 1982 murder of Linda Strait, a 15-year-old girl who was abducted as she walked to a local grocery store. He took her to a rural area, where he raped and killed her. Her body was later discovered by a fisherman near Plantes Ferry Park.
For two decades, Williams was not connected to Linda’s murder. He was already serving prison time for the kidnapping and rape of two eight-year-old girls — crimes committed the year after Linda’s death — when DNA evidence recovered from the original crime scene was tested and matched to him. Williams pleaded guilty to Linda’s murder in 2006 and has since been held at the Twin Rivers Unit at Monroe Correctional Complex.
Because his sentence is indeterminate, Williams is periodically considered for release by the Idaho Indeterminate Sentence Review Board, a quasi-judicial body that evaluates incarcerated individuals for potential release based on criminal history, actuarial risk assessments, victim statements, completion of rehabilitation programs, and release plans.
Williams Refuses to Attend — and Says He Always Will
Williams did not appear at the April 8 hearing, consistent with his stated intentions. In a February 10 letter to the ISRB — signed by Williams and shared by Linda’s family — he wrote: “I caused untold damage to her family. I took the life of a beautiful 15-year-old girl.”
He also wrote: “There are some crimes that are unforgiving and murder is one of those crimes — at least for me,” indicating that he does not believe he deserves freedom and says he will never attend a future hearing.
Despite Williams’ apparent desire to remain behind bars, ISRB rules require that he be given another opportunity to appear before any decision regarding his status is finalized. The hearing will be rescheduled for a later date.
Impact on Linda Strait’s Family
Linda’s family has been closely monitoring parole proceedings for years and regularly updates the public through the Justice for Linda Strait Facebook page. Following the missed April 8 hearing, the page announced: “As promised by him, he did not appear. Per the ISRB rules, they unfortunately have to allow him another chance. The hearing will be rescheduled for a later date.”
In a phone conversation with KREM 2, the family expressed deep frustration that the hearing process continues even as Williams himself refuses to engage with it. They said each hearing reopens the grief of losing Linda, and that they would rather focus their energy on honoring her life than tracking the ongoing legal proceedings surrounding her killer. The family expressed hope that the number of future hearings will be limited.
The toll on victims’ families in cases like this — where procedural requirements force continued engagement with a killer’s incarceration status — underscores ongoing debates about how Idaho’s indeterminate sentencing system balances legal process with the real human cost borne by crime victims and their loved ones. For those following related violent crime cases across the region, a suspect in the Iryna Zarutska murder case has been found incompetent to stand trial in North Carolina, raising similar questions about how the justice system handles its most serious offenders.
What Comes Next
The Idaho Indeterminate Sentence Review Board will reschedule Williams’ parole hearing for a future date. Under board rules, he must be given another opportunity to appear before any release determination is made. Whether Williams attends or continues to decline remains to be seen, though he has stated clearly he does not intend to participate in the process.
Linda’s family has indicated they will continue monitoring the situation. For updates on Idaho courts and criminal justice matters statewide, visit Idaho News.