New Details Emerge Surrounding Death Of Bills Ex Mike Williams

Tampa Police is officially launching an investigation into the death of former Buffalo Bills receiver Mike Williams, who passed away on Sept. 12.

According to records obtained by the Tampa Bay Times, the grandmother and mother of Williams' 8-year-old daughter reported to police that Williams had received unprescribed Percocet, a prescription painkiller, a week before his death, the same day he went into cardiac arrest. Police could not provide a copy of the statement, as the investigation is still ongoing, but the Times did determine the person who made the report was Traci King, the grandmother to Williams' daughter.

“The nature of the crime is under review,” Tampa Police said in an email to the Times.

Also according to the Times, three of Williams' close friends corroborated the police report that he was supplied unprescribed drugs. One of his friends, David "Phūj" Thornton, lamented the fact that Williams is no longer here while his death remains unsolved.

“People are walking around free, and Mike is dead,” Thornton said. “It is sad if people (who visited Williams) at his bedside didn’t have his best interests.”

Both the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner's Office and St. Joseph's Hospital declined to comment on the matter.

According to Tierney Lyle, the mother of Williams' daughter, the former receiver was working with an electrical company when she believes he got hit in the head on Aug. 18. While Williams initially believed he only suffered a headache, his condition worsened as time progressed and he eventually had to go into intensive care. After leaving intensive care, doctors said Williams would have to relearn how to walk.

A 2010 fourth-round pick out of Syracuse, Williams spent the first four of his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before being traded to his hometown Bills for his fifth and final NFL season. The Buffalo native finished his career with 223 receptions for 3,089 yards and 26 touchdowns.