Bio

Robert Shannon Walker II was born on December 20, 1971. He grew up in Florida. There is limited information about his early life and family background. However, it's noted that he struggled with mental health issues. Walker was diagnosed as bipolar, which has been mentioned in various reports about him.

Details of his upbringing and education have not been publicly discussed. His teen years and early adulthood remain unclear in available records. The focus of most accounts tends to be on his later actions rather than his formative years.

As he became an adult, Walker's life was marked by involvement in illegal activities, which eventually led to significant legal consequences. He was later arrested and sentenced for severe crimes committed in January 2003. However, his past before this time remains largely unknown.

Murder Story

On the evening of January 26, 2003, Robert Shannon Walker II and his girlfriend, Leigh Ford, were at an apartment in Palm Bay, Florida. They were joined by David "Opie" Hamman and two women, Leslie Ritter and Loriann Gibson. Walker and Ford attacked Hamman, beating him with objects like a metal flashlight and a blackjack. They suspected Hamman might be a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent and forced everyone to strip to check for hidden wires.

After searching them, Walker and Ford took Ritter and Gibson to a back bedroom and continued to assault Hamman for about two to three hours. Around midnight, Hamman managed to escape and ran a short distance before Walker and Ford caught him. They put him in the trunk of Ford's car, laying down a tarp first.

The couple drove to the Tom Lawton Recreation Area, a state park. When they arrived, they forced Hamman, whose hands were bound, to lie on the ground. Walker then shot Hamman six times in the face with a Llama .45-caliber pistol.

After the murder, Walker asked Ritter and Gibson to drive him in Hamman's truck to Georgia. They drove him as far as Live Oak, Florida, but left him at a gas station when he got out to buy a map. The two women then reported the incident to law enforcement. Walker’s description was released, and he was arrested the next morning at the Live Oak bus station.

During the trial, a recorded confession by Walker was played, and both Gibson and Ritter testified against him. Walker was convicted on multiple charges, including first-degree murder, and was sentenced to death on December 13, 2004. His co-defendant, Leigh Ford, received two life sentences and an additional 15-year sentence for her involvement in the crime.