Mary R. Walter was shot nine times in the body in 1980 – the crime against the young mother of a six-year-old daughter went unpunished until recently. But 42 years later, detectives from the US state of Kansas managed to arrest a suspect. Steven L. Hanks, 68, of Burden is in custody for the brutal murder.
No signs of a brawl, assault, robbery or burglary – the murder of the then 23-year-old in a trailer park stunned investigators in the 1980s. The young woman was found by her husband when he came home from work. All the police could find was that a daughter’s mother had been shot with nine bullets from a small-bore weapon.
Steven L. Hanks was already interested in the crime against the woman at the time, but was never charged, according to Law & Crime magazine. Sheriff in charge Brian Bellendir suggests prosecutors at the time probably felt they didn’t have the evidence to win the case in court. But the tide has probably turned. The 68-year-old has since been arrested.
Investigators reopened the case when he was suffering from Corona
“When we reviewed the matter, it was found that some information had been overlooked initially and some had been added at a later date,” Bellendir said. Ironically, a detective’s corona illness led to the reopening of the case. While Adam Hales recovered from the infection, he handled the cold case. Together with Bellendir he went to investigate again. “In October of this year, we finally received new evidence that allowed the sheriff’s office to submit the case to the Barton County Attorney for review,” Bellendir said. After four weeks of reviewing the report, a murder warrant was issued for Hanks.
Sheriff happy with ‘justice for society’
The officials would not reveal what new evidence it was. “We will not be commenting at this time,” Bellendir said, praising his colleagues, “I am proud of my officers for solving this case. Hopefully it will bring closure to the family and justice to society.” It was a long, complicated and laborious investigation.
However, the victim’s daughter finds no comfort in the new revelation. “She said she had forgiven him (the suspect) some time ago and feels no different today,” the detective said. Unfortunately, her parents, her husband and her sister have already passed away. These relatives would certainly have been relieved to learn that Walter’s murder had been solved.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
