Whatever Happened...

An update on past news

Wednesday, November 13, 1996

Young victim
of beating recovers

Q: What ever happened to Dana Williams, who was seriously injured after being attacked on his bicycle while running an errand in Hilo in 1994?

Williams, now 17, is scheduled to graduate from Hilo High School in June and plans on attending University of Hawaii at Manoa to study electrical engineering. He'd like to eventually earn an advanced degree from MIT. "The boy is a phenomenon really," said grandmother Natalia Purinton.

Forced to undergo rehabilitation therapy after suffering severe head injuries and some paralysis, the 6-foot 4-inch Williams has come a long way in a short time, said Purinton. He still walks with a limp and his sense of smell never returned.

"But from talking to him and the way he acts, you wouldn't know anything happened," she said.

He has a job. He has a truck. And he just received a $2,000 college scholarship from Discover Card.

But the case remains a mystery.

Police have not made any arrests in connection with the Dec. 19, 1994, beating. That evening, Williams was riding his bike to a nearby convenience store to pick up a newspaper that contained a photo of him in an electric car he helped build. Police said he was beaten at least three times on his head with a blunt object.

"Dana's going to amaze every one of us," Purinton said.