In a cold case that spanned over four decades, a man was penalized for his role in the 1980 homicide of his previous neighbor in Kansas.
The probe into Mary Robin Walter's January 24, 1980, fatal shooting in Great Bend, at age 23, had stagnated until 2022. A detective managed to convince Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir to revive the case, utilizing modern tools and methods not available back then.
The fresh evidence pointed to Steven L. Hanks, who was 25 at the time and had been a potential suspect initially. The Kansas Attorney General's Office declared in a Friday statement that it was Hanks' recent confessions during new interviews that allowed authorities to indict him in 2022, when he resided in Burden, Kansas.
Hanks, now 70, received his sentence for second-degree murder on Thursday. His plea deal in August stipulated no less than 5 years and no more than 25 years. However, Barton County District Court Judge Steve Johnson on Thursday deviated from the plea agreement and sentenced Hanks to no less than 10 years and no more than 25 years.
The sheriff stated that this is likely the oldest unsolved cold case in Kansas to be reopened and result in a conviction.
"It's disheartening that many individuals significantly impacted by this unfortunate incident have since passed away before seeing the suspect brought to justice," Bellendir stated Friday. "I feel fortunate to have had the resources and the determined personnel to conclude this case. The credit for solving this homicide goes to the dedicated officers with the tenacity to bring it to a conclusion."
Walter was a wife, mother, and nursing school student when she was gunned down multiple times. A .22-caliber handgun was found at the scene, which was determined to be the murder weapon. Since at least 1982, nobody had actively worked on the case until they reopened it, according to the sheriff, as reported by the Wichita Eagle.
Sgt. Detective Adam Hales and Lt. David Paden re-interviewed Hanks, Walter's neighbor at the time and an initial suspect. During his interviews, Hanks admitted to murdering Walter, the attorney general’s office stated. The prosecutor, Associate Deputy Attorney General Jessica Domme, commended their diligence.
"Justice was served for Robin due to their dedication and commitment to this cold case," Domme stated.
Hanks had previously served time in prison for another crime. He was arrested in 1981 and charged with rape, battery, robbery, and burglary. He was convicted and released in 1993, as per the Kansas Department of Corrections.
The statements from the sheriff and the attorney general's office, as well as online court records, did not disclose Hanks' motivation for killing Walter. Bellendir was not available for comment on Saturday, according to the sheriff's office. The attorney general's office and Hanks' attorney did not respond to The Associated Press' requests for comment on Saturday.
The sheriff expressed his sentiment on Friday, mentioning that many individuals who were significantly impacted by the incident have passed away before seeing justice served. (referring to 'us')
Domme, the prosecutor, celebrated the conviction, stating that justice was served for Robin due to the dedication and commitment of the investigators. (referring to 'us')
