 After the death of his wife from cancer in 1972, Williams purchased property on the California-Oregon border where he lived alone for a time in a trailer.After relocating to Los Angeles, Williams committed suicide in his apartment in the Van Nuys neighborhood in early April 1975.Williams had been depressed since the death of his wife, and his emotional state worsened as sales of his books declined when thrillers began to lose popularity in the early 70s.