Former deputy in love triangle convicted of killing girlfriend, her husband

OAKLAND (TCN) -- A jury found a 26-year-old former Alameda County deputy guilty of killing his girlfriend and her estranged husband, who she lived with.

The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office announced Oct. 3 that Devin Williams was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Maria Tran and Benison Tran. He could be sentenced to 50 years to life in prison.

On Sept. 7, 2022, Williams reportedly left work at the sheriff’s office and went to Maria Tran and Benison Tran’s home in Dublin, just outside Oakland. When he got there, he fatally shot the married couple with his service weapon, then fled the scene. Maria Tran and Benison Tran were pronounced dead at the scene.

The district attorney’s office said Williams contacted Dublin Police that day to surrender. He was taken into custody by the California Highway Patrol.

Williams and Maria Tran were in a relationship, but Maria Tran and Benison Tran were legally married and still lived together.

According to KRON-TV, Williams and Maria Tran met at John George Psychiatric Hospital, where she worked as a nurse. They reportedly started dating, but she later tried to break up with him. About a month before the fatal shooting, on Aug. 8, 2022, Williams reportedly went to the Trans' house and started ringing the doorbell repeatedly. Benison Tran and Maria Tran called police, but a wrongful death lawsuit filed against the county claims Williams was given "preferential treatment" because he worked in law enforcement.

An audit later showed that a psychologist listed 5% of Alameda County deputies, about 47 people in total, as "not suited" to work as a peace officer. Williams was among those 47. KRON, which cites a letter written by Sheriff Gregory Ahern in 2022, that those who were listed as "not suited" will "not be authorized to carry a firearm and you cannot make arrests based upon probable cause, issue traffic citations, or perform any function reserved for peace officers."

Alameda County Lt. Ray Kelly said after Williams' arrest that there were "no indications that he would be capable of committing a double murder."

Kelly said at the time, "There is no excuse for this. It’s not rational. He is a coward. He’s cold-hearted."

Williams' sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 12.

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