In the quiet community of Sidon, Mississippi, the life of Walter Stewart Jr., a 54-year-old African American man, was tragically cut short. On March 12, 2019, his body was discovered by a fisherman in the murky waters of Sidon Cutoff Lake, a Yazoo River brake situated about three miles southwest of the town. An investigation revealed that Stewart had been shot multiple times before his body was left in the lake. The last time he was seen alive, he was at a nightclub in Sidon.
In the days leading up to his death, he had been staying at the Regency Inn & Suites motel on U.S. 82 West.
Stewart was a man of many talents and passions. A former professional kickboxer, he found joy in teaching the art of fighting and self-defense. Those who knew him described him as a friendly and outgoing individual who could strike up a conversation with almost anyone. He was a devoted family man, the father of nine children and four stepchildren, and his sudden and violent death left a void in their lives that has been difficult to fill. His family remembers him as a funny, energetic man who maintained close relationships with all of his children.
The investigation into Walter Stewart Jr.'s murder has been met with frustrating silence. Despite the passage of time, no arrests have been made, and no suspects have been publicly identified. This lack of progress has been a source of immense pain and anger for his grieving family. They believe that people in the community have information that could lead to a breakthrough in the case but are not coming forward to law enforcement. Investigators have urged anyone with information to contact CrimeStoppers, offering a financial reward for tips that lead to an arrest.
The death of Walter Stewart Jr. was one of eleven homicides in Leflore County in 2019, ten of which involved firearms. This spike in violent crime prompted the Leflore County Board of Supervisors to allocate additional funding to the sheriff's department to form a task force. While authorities continue their investigation, the family of Walter Stewart Jr. is left to grapple with their loss, hoping that one day justice will be served and those responsible for his death will be held accountable.
