Stolen Car Tip Helps Lead Cops To Kayla Chapman's Accused Killer

PORTLAND, OR – It's an example of why police often say, if you see something, say something. In this case, officials say that because someone did just that, a man is in jail charged with murder.

A woman was watching television news earlier this week when she noticed something familiar.

The story was about Kelso police looking for the man who killed 30-year-old Kayla Chapman early Tuesday morning as she worked at the Holt’s Quik Chek.

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Police had released a picture of a man that they said was the killer and a picture of the car they said that he was driving

Both struck a familiar ring with the woman.

The man looked like 19-year-old D’Anthony Leslie Williams and the car looked a lot like hers. She called 911 and told them that Williams had “borrowed” her car and never returned it.

As far as she was concerned, he had stolen it and reported it as such.

Around the same time, a juvenile probation officer saw the reports and recognized the picture as Williams who was under this supervision.

Detectives were able to track down Williams at his girlfriend’s home in Camas.

He was arrested without incident.

Police say that he had methamphetamines on him at the time.

He now faces charges of murder, robbery, drug possession, and possession of a stolen vehicle.

Williams is being held without bail and will be back in court next week.

In the meantime, police say that they believe there were two other people with Williams at the time of the murder. They ask that anyone with information call them at 360-423-1270.

At Williams’s first court appearance on Thursday, the judge provided more details on what happened.

Among the new details provided in court are that Williams walked right up to Chapman who was behind the counter. He appears to try firing his gun – even before making any demands – but it didn’t go off.

After that, the judge said, he grabbed money and cigarettes, and pointed his gun at Chapman again. This time the gun worked.

Chapman had been shot in chest. Still, she managed to call 911 and report what had happened.

Police rushed to the scene but by the time they got there, Kayla Chapman was dead.

Outside the Quik Chek, people continue to leave flowers and teddy bears in her memory.

Photo via Kelso Police Department.