Kenishia Walker, a 25-year-old African American woman, was found dead in her Arlington, Texas home on April 14, 2017. She was discovered by her 8-year-old son, who found her fatally shot in her bed. Kenishia was seven months pregnant at the time of her death. The investigation revealed that she had been in a relationship with Keith Haynes, a 27-year-old man who worked as a courtesy patrol officer for the Dallas County Sheriff's Office.
Haynes was arrested on a capital murder charge shortly after the incident.
The investigation into Kenishia Walker's death uncovered several key pieces of evidence. Text messages between Walker and Haynes indicated that she feared for her life. In one message, she told a friend, "If I ever come up dead please show the police this and the other screenshots." Haynes had deleted text messages between him and Walker before allowing investigators to examine his phone. Additionally, Walker's son told detectives that a man he knew as "Moosie" had been with his mother the night she was killed. Haynes confirmed that "Moosie" was his nickname.
Keith Haynes was arrested at his Plano apartment a few days after the murder. He was charged with capital murder and held on a $250,000 bond. During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence of the text messages and threats made by Haynes. The jury found Haynes guilty of the capital murder of Kenishia Walker and her unborn child. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The case received significant media attention due to the nature of the crime and Haynes' employment with the Dallas County Sheriff's Office. The department initiated an internal investigation and administrative proceedings concerning his employment. The tragic death of Kenishia Walker and her unborn child highlighted the dangers of domestic violence and the importance of taking threats seriously.
