Executed Crips co-founder gets final wish, friend says

The ashes of executed Crips gang co-founder Stanley "Tookie" Williams were spread in a lake in South Africa in accordance with his will, a friend said.

Barbara Becnel, who co-authored children's books with Williams and witnessed his execution, said in a statement Friday that she and Williams' longtime friend Shirley Neal sprinkled the ashes into the lake Sunday in Thokoza Park in the city of Soweto, as Williams had requested.

"On his last day of life Stan asked me to spread his ashes in South Africa," Becnel said. "He wanted to return to the motherland."

Williams was cremated after his death by injection at San Quentin state prison on December 13.

He was convicted of murdering four people during two 1979 holdups. He claimed to have redeemed himself by writing books encouraging youngsters to stay away from gangs.