In 1984, Oklahoma was shaken by a series of brutal murders committed by Gary Alan Walker. Over the course of just one month, Walker took the lives of five innocent people, leaving a trail of fear and heartbreak in his wake.
Walker’s first known victim was Eddie Cash, a 63-year-old widower from Broken Arrow. On May 6, 1984, Walker beat Cash with a brick and strangled him with a vacuum cleaner cord. This horrific act marked the beginning of Walker's deadly spree.
By the end of May, Walker had claimed four more victims: Jayne Hilburn of Vinita, Margaret Bell Lydick of Poteau, Janet Jewell of Beggs, and Tulsa radio newswoman Valerie Shaw-Hartzell. Each of these murders involved kidnapping, rape, and strangulation, leaving families and communities devastated.
Margaret Bell Lydick was one of the victims of Walker's brutal crime spree in 1984. Born on September 4, 1947, she was only 36 years old when she was murdered in May 1984.
Walker kidnapped, raped, and strangled Lydick in Poteau. Her tragic death was part of the series of murders that Walker committed over the course of just one month.
Margaret's death, along with the deaths of Walker's other victims, left a lasting impact on the community and the families of those who were lost. Walker was eventually captured and brought to justice.
Walker was eventually captured and brought to trial. During his defense, it was revealed that he had suffered a traumatic childhood, including beatings from his stepfather and an incestuous relationship with his mother. Despite these revelations, the jury rejected the insanity defense and found Walker guilty of his crimes.
On January 13, 2000, Walker was executed for his heinous acts. In his final moments, he apologized to the families of his victims, acknowledging the pain he had caused. While his execution brought some closure to the victims' families, the scars left by his actions remain a somber reminder of the capacity for human cruelty.
