THE DARK SIDE OF IOWA
John Walker
#0205330
Full Name: John William Walker
DOB: August 6, 1958
Charge: 1st degree murder
County: Webster
City: Fort Dodge
Current Status: Iowa State Penitentiary
Date of Crime: July 15, 1993
Tentative Discharge Date: Life
Victim: Jackie Walker
DOB: August 6, 1958
Charge: 1st degree murder
County: Webster
City: Fort Dodge
Current Status: Iowa State Penitentiary
Date of Crime: July 15, 1993
Tentative Discharge Date: Life
Victim: Jackie Walker
On the evening of July 15, 1993, sometime after 9:00 PM, John William Walker went to pick up his wife Jackie at her parents’ home in Fort Dodge. John and Jackie argued in the house. Jackie went outside and John followed. He requested to speak with her in the garage. Jack agreed, went into the garage and sat on an old coffee table. John stood in front of her and held out a gun. A shot was fired and Jackie was struck in the head with a bullet. John dropped the gun and ran away.
John encountered his friend Jerry Altman a few blocks from Jackie’s parents’ house. He told Jerry he had accidentally shot Jackie and asked for a ride to the law enforcement center. Jerry took John to Patty Diehl’s house. Patty called the hospital and learned Jackie was dead. She then called authorities at John’s request. She also called an attorney.
John was arrested and taken in. A blood sample was drawn at 2:45 AM showing his blood-alcohol level was at .177. He was charged with first degree murder. John testified he was drunk on the evening of July 15. He remembered Jackie reaching for the gun and the gun going off.
At trial, Jackie’s 8-year-old daughter, Tenesha, and son, J.R., testified they had witnessed the shooting. Tenesha had been outside sitting on the back of a car in the driveway facing the garage. She stated that she saw John point the gun at her mother and shoot. She did not see her mother grab at the gun. J.R. testified he was standing by a tree where he could see his mother and John in the garage. He saw John take the gun from his side, pull the latch back, pull the gun up, point it at his mother and pull the trigger. J.R. also did not see any struggle for the gun.
Shalamya Diekman, Jackie’s niece, testified about the argument John and Jackie had immediately before the shooting. John had told Jackie she had to pick between him and her kids. Shalamya stated J.R. had been inside the house with her when they heard the gunshot.
Jerry testified he was with John most of the day on July 15. He saw John drinking beer and smoking crack cocaine that evening. Another friend of John’s, Brent Newton, had also been with John that day and was with him when he drove to his in-law’s house. Brent testified they had been drinking; he estimated John had consumed more than a case of beer. Patty and Blake Parker testified John was intoxicated and upset when they saw him after the shooting.
Jerry further testified that when he picked John up on the street after the shooting John told him he had shot Jackie and the gun went off accidentally. A firearms expert testified for the defense. He conducted tests on the murder weapon and found the gun would fire even though the trigger was not pulled. He found the gun to be in poor condition.
Danny Brown testified that a couple of months before Jackie was shot, while John and Danny were drinking together, they discussed John’s relationship with Jackie. Danny heard John say, “Before I let her leave, I will kill her.” Danny did not take John seriously. Kelly Brown, Jackie’s sister, testified she heard John tell Jackie, “I’ll kill you,” approximately a year before the shooting. She said both Jackie and John laughed at this remark. Donald Rykhus testified that about a year and one-half before the shooting John was at his house after an argument with Jackie. John had said sometimes he would like to shoot Jackie.
The jury found John guilty as charged.
John encountered his friend Jerry Altman a few blocks from Jackie’s parents’ house. He told Jerry he had accidentally shot Jackie and asked for a ride to the law enforcement center. Jerry took John to Patty Diehl’s house. Patty called the hospital and learned Jackie was dead. She then called authorities at John’s request. She also called an attorney.
John was arrested and taken in. A blood sample was drawn at 2:45 AM showing his blood-alcohol level was at .177. He was charged with first degree murder. John testified he was drunk on the evening of July 15. He remembered Jackie reaching for the gun and the gun going off.
At trial, Jackie’s 8-year-old daughter, Tenesha, and son, J.R., testified they had witnessed the shooting. Tenesha had been outside sitting on the back of a car in the driveway facing the garage. She stated that she saw John point the gun at her mother and shoot. She did not see her mother grab at the gun. J.R. testified he was standing by a tree where he could see his mother and John in the garage. He saw John take the gun from his side, pull the latch back, pull the gun up, point it at his mother and pull the trigger. J.R. also did not see any struggle for the gun.
Shalamya Diekman, Jackie’s niece, testified about the argument John and Jackie had immediately before the shooting. John had told Jackie she had to pick between him and her kids. Shalamya stated J.R. had been inside the house with her when they heard the gunshot.
Jerry testified he was with John most of the day on July 15. He saw John drinking beer and smoking crack cocaine that evening. Another friend of John’s, Brent Newton, had also been with John that day and was with him when he drove to his in-law’s house. Brent testified they had been drinking; he estimated John had consumed more than a case of beer. Patty and Blake Parker testified John was intoxicated and upset when they saw him after the shooting.
Jerry further testified that when he picked John up on the street after the shooting John told him he had shot Jackie and the gun went off accidentally. A firearms expert testified for the defense. He conducted tests on the murder weapon and found the gun would fire even though the trigger was not pulled. He found the gun to be in poor condition.
Danny Brown testified that a couple of months before Jackie was shot, while John and Danny were drinking together, they discussed John’s relationship with Jackie. Danny heard John say, “Before I let her leave, I will kill her.” Danny did not take John seriously. Kelly Brown, Jackie’s sister, testified she heard John tell Jackie, “I’ll kill you,” approximately a year before the shooting. She said both Jackie and John laughed at this remark. Donald Rykhus testified that about a year and one-half before the shooting John was at his house after an argument with Jackie. John had said sometimes he would like to shoot Jackie.
The jury found John guilty as charged.
Source: Case Text
