The Suspect Acquitted trophy/achievement in Directive 8020 (The Dark Pictures Anthology) is a tricky one for many players. It requires proving that Williams is human by the end of the investigation, which unlocks the Bronze trophy on PlayStation or equivalent achievement on other platforms.
This guide walks you through every key choice and step needed to acquit Williams and identify him as human. Follow it carefully to avoid turning him into a Duplicate.
Trophy Requirements Overview
Trophy Description: “Williams was identified as human.”
Difficulty: Medium (requires specific actions in Episodes 5 and 6).
Missable: Yes — many choices lock you out permanently.
Best Done On: Your “Everyone Lives” or main survival playthrough.
Step-by-Step Correct Choices
Episode 5: Sedate Williams (“Is This Decaf?” Scene)
This is the most important step. You must sedate Williams early.
- During the scene where the crew discusses Williams’ strange behavior, choose options that support sedating him for medical testing.
- When you get the direct choice:
- Select “Sedate Williams” (or the equivalent calm/medical option).
- Do not confront him aggressively or leave him unsedated.
Why this matters: If Williams is not sedated, he gets replaced by a Duplicate later. Sedating him keeps the real Williams in play for the scan.
Episode 6: Point Blank Scene (Do NOT Shoot)
This is the critical moment for the trophy.
- Reach the Point Blank standoff in Episode 6.
- When you have the gun pointed at Williams and the choice appears:
- Choose NOT to shoot (lower the weapon / wait / trust him).
- Let the full scan complete.
After you hold fire, the scan finishes and confirms Williams is human, unlocking the Suspect Acquitted trophy immediately or shortly after.
Important: If you shoot him here, you’ll likely get the Duplicate route and miss the trophy.
Supporting Choices That Help (Recommended for Safety)
To make the path smoother and increase survival chances:
- Build positive relationships with Williams earlier in the game (choose supportive dialogue).
- Gather as much evidence as possible about the mimics/Duplicates before the confrontation.
- Keep the crew together as much as possible in Episodes 4–6.
- Avoid accusing Williams without concrete proof.
Common Mistakes That Lock You Out
- Skipping the sedation in Episode 5.
- Shooting Williams during the Point Blank standoff.
- Splitting the group too early or failing key QTEs/stealth sections around Williams.
- Aggressively confronting him in multiple dialogue scenes.
Pro Tips for This Trophy
- Create a manual save before the sedation choice and before the Point Blank scene so you can reload easily.
- This trophy pairs well with Humanitarian (Everyone Lives) runs.
- After unlocking Suspect Acquitted, use the Turning Points feature (available after your first playthrough) to experiment with the opposite choices for other trophies.
Other Related Trophies in This Section
- Total Party Kill — Opposite route (shoot Williams and cause a death spiral).
- Organic Waste Disposal — Burn the Duplicate (requires not sedating Williams).
The Suspect Acquitted trophy is very satisfying once you nail the correct sequence. It feels great to clear Williams’ name and keep the real crew member alive.
Have you gotten the Suspect Acquitted trophy yet? Did you sedate him early or go for the aggressive route first? Share your experience or ask about other trophies (like everyone survives) in the comments below!
Guide updated for the launch version of Directive 8020 (May 2026). Minor dialogue variations may exist based on previous choices, but the core sedation + don’t shoot path remains consistent.
