A man charged in the brutal killing of his 78-year-old grandmother pleaded guilty Friday and was sentenced to more than 23 years in prison in Clark County Superior Court.
Benjamin W. Walker, 29, entered the guilty plea to first-degree domestic violence murder in the March 2017 slaying, going against his attorney’s advice. Defense attorney Jeff Sowder told the court that he did not agree with his client’s decision to take a plea deal but said the decision was ultimately Walker’s.
Deputy Prosecutor Jessica Smith, with the Elder Justice Center, said she felt the sentence was fair.
“This was a truly horrific act,” she said, adding that Walker’s grandmother, Joan Walker, had taken him and his parents in when they fell on hard times.
According to an affidavit of probable cause, Benjamin Walker went to the Washougal Police Department about 6 a.m. March 6, 2017, and confessed to killing his grandmother. Camas police officers responded to the home at 3326 H St., to check on her welfare and found her dead inside.
Walker told detectives he drank a six-pack and a 32-ounce can of beer on the night of March 5, 2017, and into the early morning. He was angry with his grandmother, he said, because she confronted him the evening before about leaving a light on in the house. Walker said she frequently chastised him for leaving lights on and using too much water while showering so “he decided her and his fate,” the affidavit says.
He went into his grandmother’s bedroom, where she was sleeping, jumped on top of her and began strangling her. The woman tried to fight back, but Walker overpowered her. When she stopped moving, Walker wanted to make sure she was dead, he said. He was “physically exhausted from choking” his grandmother so he went into the kitchen and grabbed a knife, according to court records.
Walker told authorities he then used the knife to cut his grandmother’s throat. He left the knife next to her body, went to the bathroom to wash his hands and then walked to the police department. He told police the thought of killing his grandmother came to him that morning, court documents state.
On Friday, a victim advocate read several statements from family members, and Walker’s father also presented a statement to the court.
Facing his son, Terry Walker fought back sobs and wiped tears from his face: “I want to say thank you to Mr. Sowder for fighting for my son and thank you to the prosecutor for fighting for justice for my mom. Benjamin, I wish I had a time machine so I could go back and stop all of this. … I want you to remember that I love you.
“Benjamin, my son, I forgive you. I forgive you, Ben. I know that you weren’t yourself and that the alcohol took over,” Terry Walker said.
Benjamin Walker grabbed a tissue and wiped his face as his father spoke. He declined to make a statement when it was his turn.
Judge John Fairgrieve said he would follow the agreed-upon sentencing recommendation of 280 months in prison followed by 36 months of community custody.
“My impression is this is a terrible thing that we all wish hadn’t happened, but that’s not where we’re at today,” Fairgrieve said.
He acknowledged that Walker took responsibility for his actions by first turning himself in to police and then by pleading guilty.
“I’m sure you feel very badly,” he said.
