A Comer man was arrested Monday in connection with a 17-year old North Carolina murder case that was recently reopened.
Madison County chief deputy Shawn Burns said their office was contacted by Cleveland County North Carolina’s sheriff’s investigators Monday morning, who told them they had an active warrant for a June 21, 1995 murder in their area. They were on their way to pick up the suspect in Madison County and requested their assistance.
Gator Walter Martin, 42, 1721 Roy Woods Road, Comer, was taken into custody without incident at his home.
“We sent six or seven deputies along to assist,” Burns said.
Martin was booked into the Madison County Jail on first degree murder charges. He waived extradition and was returned to Shelby NC.
Burns said he is not sure how long Martin has lived in the county, but that law enforcement records show only one arrest record, in 2004, for a traffic violation. He said NC investigators interviewed Martin last week about the murder.
Two others were also arrested for the murder and robbery of Charleen E. Simons, according to The Shelby Star.
Simons was found dead of stab wounds around midnight at the “Log Cabin” an illegal tavern she owned and lived in near Kings Mountain, according to The Star.
Also arrested were William Earl Huffstetler, 37, 110 Brull Street in Blacksburg, SC and Randy Michael Wagenknect, 40, 1317 Jourolman Avenue, Knoxville, TN.
Gator Walter Martin
Mr. Burns said, ".... NC investigators interviewed Martin last week about the murder." So after 17 years, law enforcement talks to him some more and a week later comes to get him. Seems he would have up and run again. Maybe he's tired now. If he's innocent, court proceedings will prove it, so not to worry; you'll have your Gator back soon enough. Otherwise, he needs to be in prison.
Sincerely