One of two people arrested and charged with murder of an Abilene police officer was enrolled as an ACU student a decade ago.
The Abilene Police Department arrested Phillip Jay Walter Jr., 29, and Violetta Walter, 30, three days after Abilene Police Department Officer Don Allen was found dead in his Clyde home. The officer’s funeral took place Friday.
The two were taken into custody in the 1000 block of South Clack Street Thursday evening. APD said the married couple was linked to the apparent homicide through his stolen property found in their possession.
Under education on his Facebook page, Phillip Walter listed criminal justice at ACU and Cisco College. The Office of the Registrar confirmed he attended the university in the fall 2004 semester but said he majored in graphic design and advertising. He did not return the following semester, and there’s no indication he maintained ties with the university.
Walter and his wife were charged with first-degree murder, a felony in the state of Texas, and could face five to 99 years or life in confinement. Both have bond set at $500,000.