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THE LEADER SERVING TIPTON COUNTY SINCE 1886 | COVINGTONLEADER.COM | VOL. 126, NO. 12 | THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 2011
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Teen confesses to murders TBI: ‘He didn’t know why, he just got angry’ By ECHO DAY eday@covingtonleader.com COVINGTON – Jacob Brown, the 16-year-old who admitted to beating Ed and Bertha Walker, an elderly Munford couple, to death with an aluminum baseball bat last week was arraigned in Tipton County Juvenile Court on
Monday following his arrest Thursday in a Millington motel room. Brown allegedly said his motive for the murder was that he was “angry.” “The individual said he’d killed both subjects with a baseball bat in their residence,” said Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Agent Mark Reynolds. “He said he had
gone in the home previously to use the restroom.” Reynolds said Brown confessed to leaving the residence, then returning with the bat hidden behind his back and under his coat. He did not say whether Brown returned immediately. “He hit Mr. Walker first; he didn’t know how many times,” Reyolds said. “Then he said he pushed Mrs. Walker, she fell and he hit her with the bat numerous times.” Brown allegedly tossed the bat behind another residence, the home of a friend, on Wiley
Drive. Reynolds said the condition of the bodies was consistent with the confession. Also in the confession was Brown’s reason for the gruesome killings. “He said he was angry,” said Reynolds. “He didn’t know why, he just got angry.” The couples’ bodies were found by their daughter Myra on Tuesday, Jan. 18. Married for 61 years, the couple is parents to daughters Myra Millican and Christie Billings. One son, Randall E. Walker, predeceased them. They had five grandchildren
and five great-grandchildren. Mr. Walker was a veteran of the Army, serving in the Korean War, and was a captain for the fire department at NSA Millington. He is also the former owner of Walker Electronics, a television repair shop in Millington. Mrs. Walker was a homemaker and former department manager at Walmart. The two were members of Randolph United Methodist Church. On Wednesday, Jan. 19, Brown was apprehended at the Admirality Inn and Suites SEE TEEN, A3
SCHOOLS
Concern grows over threats Rumors of planned violence spreading at Munford High By ECHO DAY eday@covingtonleader.com Many parents of Munford High School students were worried Tuesday after hearing rumors firearms would be brought to school this week. The Leader was contacted by five parents who believe the plan was in retaliation to the arrest of Jacob Brown, a 16-year-old student who was arrested for the Jan. 18 beating death of Ed and Bertha Walker. The Tipton County Board of Education said the threat is not a “credible” one. Dr. Tim Fite, superintendent of schools, said investigating the threat to finding the source of the rumors was like “chasing a ghost.” Because the source cannot be determined – that is, the board doesn’t know who is making the threat – it is difficult to determine whether the threats are serious in nature. As a matter of precaution, each school has security procedures and plans in place for various types of incidents, Fite said. Munford High School, like many other schools in the county, has cameras in every hallway and in the parking lot as well. Students and parents who hear threats SEE THREAT, A3
Mayor reassures safety in Munford By ECHO DAY eday@covingtonleader.com MUNFORD – Following the brutal murders of an elderly couple on Wiley Drive last week, city officials want to reassure residents Munford is a safe place to live. On Tuesday, Jan. 18, the bodies of Ed and Bertha Walker were discovered badly beaten in their home. The following day, a 16-year-old was arrested and charged with their murder. In a city where only three murders have been recorded in recent history, giving residents a sense of safety is a top priority, mayor Dwayne Cole said. “We went door-to-door with police officers on Wiley Drive the other day to reassure them that we’re on top of it, that someone’s in custody. We wanted to let them know we’re as safe as we can be and let them talk if they needed to.” In recent years, Munford and Tipton County have been given accolades for low crime rates. In 2008, Progressive Farmer SEE SAFE, A3
The family of Starr Harris met at her gravesite on Monday, releasing balloons in honor of what would have been ber 37th birthday. Harris was murdered in June 2010. Photo by Echo Day
IN MEMORY
Celebrating a Starr-studded birthday By ECHO DAY eday@covingtonleader.com
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ith a cheerful rendition of the happy birthday song and star-shaped sunglasses, the family of Starr Harris celebrated her 37th birthday Monday. But Starr, who was murdered last summer, wasn’t on Earth to celebrate with them. Instead, family and friends planned a balloon release at her gravesite in Poplar Grove Cemetery. “It just started passing around on Facebook,” said Starr’s stepson, Josh. “Some people are celebrat-
ing at their houses or at work, but people were asked to take pictures and put them on Facebook as their default photo.” The family planted dozens of red silk tulips at the gravesite in addition to bringing birthday cake, party hats and plates, a teddy bear, poster and star-shaped balloons. After singing happy birthday to Starr, balloons were released. Within two minutes, the balloons had disappeared into the gloomy clouds, symbolic of a life lost too soon. On the evening of June 1, 2010, Starr’s body was discovered in the woods behind her Richardson
VIDEO from the balloon release can be viewed at www.covingtonleader.com
Landing Lane home. A week later, her husband’s employee, Rickey A. Bell Jr., was charged with beating her to death. Bell has been in custody since his arrest. His trial is set to begin on July 18. Though the last seven months haven’t been easy for the family of Starr Harris, her husband Rick, who’s birthday was the day before Starr’s, said they’re taking life one day at a time.
Covington to see record sales tax revenue By TIFFANY HOLLAND tholland@covingtonleader.com Even in an economic downturn nationally the City of Covington, has had an increase in sales according to reports from the Tennessee Department of Revenue. At the Covington City Council board meeting on Tuesday, city treasurer Jere Hadley submitted docu-
ments showing the sales tax revenue collections for the month of December have a net collection of $598,832, an increase from last year. This delighted many city officials and make a case to prove that more people are staying in Tipton County for their purchases. “We are approaching a record year and in a down economy,” said Covington
Mayor David Gordon. “We appreciate the folks for shopping at home.” The collections are formed from sales tax revenue for everything bought in Tipton County and each individual city. Covington had the highest amount of revenue by bringing in $334,427, which is 56 percent of the county’s revenue in total. In other news at the
city council meeting the Exchange Club Carl Perkins Center placed their event request for an outdoor family event that will take place at Cobb Parr Park in Covington on May 21. The event will feature a car show, live entertainment, children’s games, crafts, business and non-profit booths. It will serve as a fundraiser for children who have been SEE TAX, A3
AreaEVENTS events AREA
This week’s week’s Featured This featuredChurch: church: Covington • Barretville • Millington • Collierville South Tipton • South Covington Mortgage Offices: South Tipton • Millington • Arlington • Collierville
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Munford Church of Christ Turn to to Page Page A7 Turn A7for fordetails details
Tipton County Museum Gardening Series 2/05/11 10 – 11:30 a.m. ʻWhere the Wild Things Areʼ – Sheryl Rose 2/12/11 10 – 11:30 a.m. “Roses!” – Vernon Paramour
1/26/11 6:00:16 PM