In a breakthrough development, a 56-year-old cold case involving the murder of Hiram “Ross” Grayam, a 47-year-old milk delivery man for Borden Milk Company in Indian River County, has finally been resolved.
During a news conference Thursday, Indian River County Sheriff Eric Flowers said the murder was a possible robbery attempt. Grayam was known to carry cash as he dropped off milk at the doorsteps.
In April 1968, Grayam went on his routine milk delivery route, unaware that it would tragically be his last. A decorated WWII veteran, Grayam had served in the Battle of the Bulge and participated in liberating two concentration camps before returning home to become a beloved member of the community as a milkman.
Later that night, concern mounted as Grayam never returned home. Law enforcement officials initiated a search leading them to Grayam’s body deep within the woods, which is now the Orangewood Park Apartments, off 38th Avenue. Sadly, his lifeless body and truck were found bearing evidence of multiple gunshot wounds.
The perpetrator managed to evade justice. Cold Case detectives went on a quest to unravel the mystery surrounding Grayam’s murder. The sheriff’s office carefully pursued every lead, hoping to bring closure to the Grayam family.
Witnesses came forward and stated that the now-deceased Thomas J. Williams had confessed to them about murdering Grayam. Williams died of natural causes in 2016 when he was in his late 60s and his relatives told investigators that Williams was known to be violent
Grayam’s family expressed mixed emotions about the significant development in the case. Larry Grayam, the son of Hiram Grayam, shared that his father’s passing inspired him to delve into crime investigations and pursue a career as a photojournalist.
“I was 16 years old. That devastated me and my family,” Larry Grayam said. “I’m very pleased we can now close the case.”
