MSgt Dan Walker , USAF, Retired Kara Walker
The Story of the Murder of Daniel Edward Walker and his daughter, Kara Walker.
Police Record Statistics:
October 5, 2000, 8:15PM, Hacienda Apts. Daniel Renwick, 27, fatally shot Kara Walker, 19 (b. April 20, 1981, Keflavik, Iceland), and Daniel E. Walker, 55 (b. May 7, 1945, Brisbane, Australia). Kara’s 15 month old son, Caleb, (b. August 10, 1999) was in the back safety seat of Dan Walker’s SUV Mercury Mountaineer.
Daniel Edward Walker was the older brother by eighteen months of Edward D. “Rusty” Walker. He was my only sibling. The family called him “Danny” until he joined the Air Force and announced he was simply, “Dan.” A career military, non-commissioned officer in USAF, he served in Thailand as an air traffic controller during the Viet Nam war, and was stationed in other locations including Korea, Iceland and many bases stateside. Dan realized his dream of being a family man, when he had his son, Michael Walker. Later, a daughter named Katie. Mike and Katie were grown up had their own families by the time Dan retired as master sergeant. Dan had begun yet another family with two daughters, Melissa and Kara, and with his wife Vicki, they all moved to Tucson, Arizona. There he used his managerial and operational project management skills from the Air Force to start a career as an operations manager. He had a generous salary working for a national seminar firm where he traveled to different states most of the week where he organized a set-up crew as well as being the announcer/master of ceremonies at seminar speaking engagements.
The Father
Dan was a family man raising his two daughters, Kara, eighteen, Melissa, sixteen. Like many teenage girls, as Kara reached junior high and high school, increasingly she had been rebelling and hanging out with the wrong crowd, many of us remember this risky time of age for ourselves or our children, and the difficulty of wanting to be independent before we are ready. By the time she was eighteen, she had become pregnant and unsure of the father of the child. Although there was a lot of love in the house, Dan thought his long trips away from home through the week, might have had some bearing on discipline issues. It is hard to say, but he certainly provided well for his family. Kara's behavior improved as she matured.
The Daughter
The birth of Kara’s son had a stabilizing affect on her. She was looking for a mature life in which to raise her son. Years later I found some notes she had written to her dad around that time that were loving and respectful missives from an obviously happy, young lady. At the time of the birth of her child she thought that perhaps her live-in boyfriend, Dan Renwick was the father. Neither of them was sure of this, but later blood tests confirmed that in fact he was not the father. Dan Renwick and Kara were going to raise the child as their own. Kara agreed to continue the relationship if Renwick would agree not to drink or take drugs. Renwick was clean and sober the relationship went smoothly. However, she broke off the relationship when his on-again-off-again sobriety became a problem.
Spousal Abuse
What follows is an arrest record. Couples often do not recognize the abusive relationship they are in. The abusive partner perhaps makes up, swears he will change, and things will be different- here is such a relationship, that no one might have suspected would end in the murder of two people:
Kara Walker and Dan Renwick were married 1996 and divorced 1998.
Record related to this incident:
Sheriff’s report:
1997 – using a telephone to threaten or terrify
1997 – disorderly conduct
1998 – pleaded guilty – unlawful sale or possession of marijuana
2000 – arrested for assaulting Kara*; Kara filed order of protection (January 13, 2000)
*January 13, 2000 Kara’s report, “he suffocated me, punched me, kicked me, grabbed me, and screamed at me calling me several names.”
January 25, 2000 Kara asked for dismissal of charges to “work this out” Dismissal was denied by court.
The year 2000 was the year that Dan Renwick murdered Kara Walker, and her father Daniel Walker.
The Murders
On October 5, 2000, Dan was driving his eighteen year old, daughter Kara to see her new boyfriend in Tucson, Arizona. Kara wanted her Dad to meet him for the first time. Kara had her fifteen month old infant son; Calib (b. August 10, 1999) in the back safety seat of Dan Walker’s SUV Mercury Mountaineer.
Although there was a police restraining order in affect, Dan Renwick called on Vicki Walker, Kara’s mother, Dan’s wife, asking where Kara was. “Dan was acting respectful and normal, and did not seem to under the influence.” Vicki later stated, it was for this reason, she divulged where Kara and her father were going. Immediately upon Renwick’s departure, Vicki called and warned Dan Walker on his cell phone of Renwick’s possible arrival at their location, and that perhaps they should not go. Dan said to Vicki, “Don’t worry, if Dan show’s up I’ll call 911.”
As father and daughter arrived at Hacienda Apartments, the new boyfriend was looking down from the upstairs window to witness Renwick emerging from his truck and approaching from behind as they attempted to pull into a parking space. There was an exchange of words through the car window; Renwick pulled out a .44 and shot Kara twice in the face, instantly killing her. As Dan Walker reached for the glove compartment for his cell phone, Dan Renwick shot him twice, once in the head and once in the chest, and fled.
My brother was alive when the paramedics arrived- the boyfriend had called 911. Dan Walker was DOA at the hospital. Although the baby had been close to gunfire, he was unharmed. This entire post-shooting scene was captured on film for the television program “Cops.” This program utilizes video cameras that follow police officers during duty hours and captures criminal arrests and crime scenes live, airing them later on the Real-TV crime show.
Renwick had fled in his truck to his cousin’s house, brandishing the .44 he had used to kill Dan and Kara. His cousin pleaded with him to turn over the weapon, which he did. He cousin then called the police, as Renwick vowed to be taken alive. As police surrounded the house, Renwick attempted to flee by driving through the police barricades across the driveway. He was critically wounded after bursting through the garage door in an attempt to smash through the police blockade. Police report: “1AM sheriff’s deputies fired at him when he attempted to run over them.”
The Trial
Dan Renwick recovered from wounds and awaited trial in the county jail. During this time, there were episodes of drive-bys in front of Vicki Walker’s house, the mother of Kara. The driver was disguised and waving a pistol, Yelling out not to stand against Renwick and various insults; This was thought to be Renwick’s drug-involved mother. The police were called and provided protection through the ensuing months. Renwick was on trial for first or second degree murder with the possibility of special circumstances -endangerment of child. Renwick’s defense plea was double, second-degree murder, as he claimed on the stand that he went there to shoot himself in front of Kara, and changed his mind at the scene.
I did not attend the trial, as there was no doubt about the evidence and Renwick’s guilt. I attended the sentencing to speak on my brother’s behalf, as most of the families were speaking on behalf of the deceased mother and child. The human interest story of the a beautiful eighteen year old mother shot and killed, leaving the baby who had been endangered with gunfire was dramatic media attention. Dan was a secondary part of such a story. Even the attorney for the accused said in my presence to the entire courtroom, “We often forget that there was the father of the victim, who was also killed, Dan Walker.” I wondered why the defense lawyer would say such a thing. I later decided the attorney knew I was the brother who was there to speak before sentencing and he may have wanted to convey his awareness of the deceased father, so that his client might benefit from a display of sympathy in front of the brother of the victim. It struck me less as sympathy and more as a manipulative defense trick.
As I took seat at the table provided in the front for addressing the judge and the defendant on the sentencing stand, I broke down and cried; hey brought me some water; it took a while to compose myself, the judge said to take my time; after a moment or two, I was able to speak. I first addressed attorney’s remark, by saying, “I want to say to the attorney, as you stated, ‘we often forget, Dan Walker’s life was taken’…I want you to know, that there is never a day that I do not remember that my brother was murdered; It isn’t something I am ever likely to forget; The attorney nodded respectfully.
I then turned to Dan Renwick who was crying on the stand, “I look like my brother, don’t I?” Renwick nodded, “Yes, you do.” “Dan, I want you to know, I do not hate you, I can see you are upset at what you have done…Dan…you knew my brother, you knew him, I can’t believe you knew him and would kill him; you knew he was a good man, and Dan, the problem is, you can’t bring him back! [I turned to the judge]…And for that reason, your honor, I am requesting the maximum sentence….and, your honor I am sorry I am so upset, it has been hard to all this out.’
The judge said, “Mr. Walker, you have nothing to be ashamed about, you did well here today, and there are many ways to be eloquent and you certainly were in your way.” The judge did not disappoint me; She turned to Dan Renwick after I had left the front table, and said the following:
“Dan Renwick, please stand. In accordance with the provision I have previously read to you, it is the sentence of this Court that you be committed to the custody of the Arizona State Prison at Florence, which commitment shall be deemed to be for the maximum sentence of imprisonment prescribed by the law; twenty-two years for the second degree murder of Kara Walker; and, twenty-two years for the second degree murder of Daniel Walker; to be served consecutively; in addition, due to the special circumstances of child endangerment, you shall not be eligible for parole.”
Escape From Prison,
July 30, 2010 :Dan Renwick, Tracy Province, John McCluskey escaped from the Kingman Prison -- with the help of McCluskey's fiancee/cousin Casslyn Welch -- on July 30, 2010.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/01/daniel-renwick-escaped-co_n_666745.html
Renwick and two other men escaped on a Friday evening by cutting a hole through a perimeter fence at the Arizona State Prison in Golden Valley, about 90 miles southeast of Las Vegas. They kidnapped two semi-truck drivers at gunpoint and used their big rig to flee. Tracy Province, was serving a life sentence for murder and robbery, John McCluskey, serving 15 years for second-degree murder, aggravated assault and discharge of a firearm. Forensic evidence also linked the three escapees to the killings of an Oklahoma couple, whose remains were found in a charred camper Wednesday morning on a remote ranch in eastern New Mexico. All were eventually apprehended.
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2010/08/19/20100819arizona-inmate-captured-in-arizona.html
Authorities have also arrested the mother of escapee John McCluskey, Claudia Washburn, in Gila County for having provided aid to two prison escapees and their accomplice. They held a truck driver at gun point, and high jacked his truck. U.S. Marshals found them and brought them back and they are now remanded to maximum security in a state prison. On a Sunday, August 1, 2010 a police officer spotted Daniel Renwick, 36, in a brown sport utility vehicle in Rifle, Colo., some 670 miles from the medium-security Arizona State Prison in Golden Valley. The officer pursued Renwick, gunshots were exchanged, and the convict was eventually taken into custody without anyone being injured.
"We have great concerns that there was laxness on the part of security staff at this private prison, but I'm going to allow the investigation to run its course," said Ryan, who plans to meet with prison officials in the next day or two.” said Charles Ryan, director of the Arizona Department of Corrections.
Being a family Victim of a Violent Crime
People often do not know what to say when I recount my tragic story of Dan and Kara Walker. Good caring people do not need to take on the sad feelings; there is really never anything anyone can say. At least the justice system worked. No one wants pity and as a victim recounts things, they often do not feel victimized in the sense of, “how could this happen, why me, why Dan and Kara?” One is left with a new understanding that these tragic events don’t just happen to other people. It leads to some caution in the world- that it is dangerous world, and precautions under domestic abuse issues, and normal everyday occurrences to be aware of surroundings. I have a greater appreciation for the justice system, the police and U.S. Marshals.
There is the healing process. I did go to a therapist for a few sessions. There is the psychological phenomenon to deal with, the initial feelings of horror, outrage, hate and revenge. This can dissipate over a short period and you process grief; replaced with feelings of sadness and loss remains. The first feelings are rage and anger; perhaps the wish to retaliate. But, the abiding feeling is of loss and helplessness in realizing you, no one, can bring them back. So, there is this deep loss that gets better with time but will always be there; that, hole in the heart that stays. Manifests itself in occasionally thinking about the loss and crying to a special song, a photo; the little things, memories. Feelings are closer to the surface now.
So, what do we feel about the perp? I gave away hatred. This was not helping me. It eats at you. However, an odd realization was that in my case, the concept of “capital punishment won’t bring back my brother and niece,” doesn’t seem to be a rational denouement with me. The internalization of justice to me, means, he should be put to death. I could pull the switch myself. It wouldn’t even be in anger. It would be a sense of justice, in my mind. Can I live with him in prison for life, instead of the death penalty, and be at peace? Sure. Definitely. I just prefer the death penalty.
I used to love watching horror movies. I can’t watch them now. I experienced horror, so now I can’t watch horror movies. Practically the only things I will watch on TV are real life crime series, “First 48 Hour” “48 Hour Mystery,” real prison shows, real Swat team shows, and “Dateline.” [Not “Cops,” because my brother’s event was captured and filmed on ‘Cops” and I am afraid I will come across a re-run of it sometime.] But, I have a fascination with true life crime shows and prison shows.
The American justice, law enforcement and our security system is something I believe in. The police, firefighters, marshals, ATF, SWAT, the military- those on the front line, are people I admire. I always go out of my way to say I appreciate their service. And, if they are in uniform I slip the server money for their dinner if in a restaurant (I leave without telling them who paid, so it is about the honor, not about the person who paid). Men and women in uniform in the U.S. are there to protect us-they can't save us all-and somethimes they can't save themselves from danger that surrounds their daily work. Authorities did a good job putting Renwick away.
I also have an understandable, reserve and caution around young men involved with my daughters. It takes a while for me to allow them over to meet the “Dad.” My daughters respect this. We all deal with these things in our own way I suppose.
