On Oct. 1, 1974, at approximately 6:00 am, Daniel Walker parked his van alongside Interstate-40, 62 miles west of Needles so he and his passenger could rest. Daniel was awakened by an unknown suspect and was shot multiple times. The passenger in the van escaped and made it to safety. The passenger flagged down a passing motorist and Walker was transported to a local hospital, where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
The suspect fled and was not located. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Homicide Detail investigated and exhausted all leads at that time.
Over several years, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Detail, Cold Case Team, reviewed Walker’s case, but were unable to develop any workable leads to solve his murder.
On Nov. 15, 2023, the Cold Case Team resumed their investigation, ultimately obtaining additional information related to the murder and identifying Thomas Eugene Creech as the suspect.
Creech is currently incarcerated in an Idaho prison for several additional murders. He is the longest-serving inmate on death row in Idaho.
While working with the Ada County District Attorney’s Office in Idaho, Cold Case Detectives were able to corroborate intimate details from statements Creech made regarding Walker’s murder. The San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office reviewed the case and is in consultation with the Ada County District Attorney’s Office.
Creech has been convicted of five murders, including three in Idaho, one in California, and one in Oregon. He is a serial killer who is established to have killed an additional six victims, and has admitted to killing upward of 40 people.
Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Detective Justin Carty, Specialized Investigations Division – Homicide Detail, Cold Case Team, at (909) 890-4904. Callers can remain anonymous and contact We-Tip at 800-78CRIME or www.wetip.com.
Republished courtesy of SBSD