In the quiet early morning hours of November 21, 2016, the life of 16-year-old Emma Jane Walker was tragically cut short in her Knoxville, Tennessee, home. A promising Central High School student and cheerleader, she was discovered unresponsive in her bed by her mother, who had gone to wake her for school. Initially, the cause was not immediately clear, but investigators soon discovered a bullet hole in her bedroom wall, revealing a homicide. Walker had been fatally shot in her sleep, with a bullet striking her behind the left ear. The investigation quickly turned toward her recent ex-boyfriend, 18-year-old William Riley Gaul, a former Central High graduate and a football player at Maryville College.
The relationship between Walker and Gaul had been a tumultuous one, and she had recently ended it due to his controlling and aggressive behavior. In the days leading up to her death, Gaul engaged in a disturbing stalking campaign in an attempt to regain her attention. He sent her troubling text messages from an anonymous number and even staged his own kidnapping to elicit her sympathy. On the night of the murder, Gaul went to Walker's house and fired two shots from a 9mm handgun into her bedroom from outside. One bullet lodged in her pillow, while the other proved fatal. He had stolen the gun from his grandfather just days before the shooting.
Suspicion fell on Gaul almost immediately. Hours after Walker's body was found, he posted a lengthy, emotional tribute to her on social media, an act that investigators found suspicious. His attempts to cover his tracks were clumsy and ultimately futile. He sought advice from a friend on how to remove fingerprints from a gun and tried to dispose of the murder weapon in the Tennessee River. However, two of his friends, growing suspicious of his behavior, cooperated with the Knox County Sheriff's Office. They secretly recorded a conversation with Gaul, which helped lead to his arrest. When he was apprehended, authorities found him with the gun, black clothing, and gloves.
William Riley Gaul was indicted on a host of charges, including first-degree murder, felony murder, especially aggravated stalking, tampering with evidence, theft, reckless endangerment, and employing a firearm during a dangerous felony. During his trial in May 2018, his defense attorney argued that Gaul never intended to kill Walker but only wanted to scare her in a misguided attempt to be her 'hero.' The prosecution, however, painted a picture of a jealous and obsessive ex-boyfriend who could not accept the end of their relationship. The jury ultimately found Gaul guilty on all charges. He was immediately sentenced to life in prison and will not be eligible for parole for 51 years.
