The news that broke yesterday that a first degree murder indictment was being handed down against gang-banger Willie Clark didn't come as a surprise - Clark had been the main suspect nearly since Day 1 - but it didn't make the news any less sweet to hear.
Williams' mother, Rosalind Williams of Fort Worth, Texas, told The Associated Press that the indictment brought her peace but also dredged up painful memories.
"Oh, I got bittersweet news today," she said of her phone call from Detective Michael Martinez informing her of Clark's indictment. "There's still a long ways to go, a long trial ahead. And we have to make sure this doesn't happen to another family, too."
For the Broncos, the news brought a sense of relief to the situation, according to long-snapper Mike Leach.
"We've been waiting for this for a long time. Hopefully they have all their ducks in a row and everything will work out the way we hope it will," he said. "I hope in some way it brings comfort to D-Will's mom and his family. You can't do anything to bring him back but if it after all these years gives a little comfort to them, hopefully it will."
I can still remember waking up early on New Years Day 2007 and reading the news. It was shocking and maddening at the same time, and quickly removed the sting of the loss the day before that cost the Broncos a playoff spot. How meaningless that all seemed.
Apart from the First Degree Murder charge, Clark faces 39 counts, including murder, attempted murder, assault, crimes of violence and a weapons violation, Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey said.
Clark is in federal custody in a separate case. He was long considered a "person of interest" in Williams' slaying but is the first suspect to be indicted.
Hopefully this is the beginning of the end to this horrible chapter of Broncos histroy and the healing process for Williams' family and teammates can now truly begin.