In the summer of 2016, a 42-year-old mother of three, Heather Young, was visiting her boyfriend in Onaway, Michigan. An argument led to her decision to drive back to her mother's home, a journey of about 300 miles. Before leaving town on July 30, she made a stop at a local establishment, the Cabin Bar and Grill. It was there she crossed paths with 55-year-old Brenton Lee Walker.
This encounter would prove to be fatal.
After striking up a conversation with Walker, Heather, who needed a place to stay for the night, accepted his offer to stay in an extra room at his home. She was never seen alive again. Her family reported her missing on August 2nd after she failed to return home and they couldn't reach her. Her car was later discovered abandoned in a parking lot in Onaway. The investigation into her disappearance quickly focused on Walker, as he was the last person known to have seen her.
The grim truth of what happened to Heather Young was uncovered on August 9, 2016. On a property in Millersburg belonging to Walker's brother, investigators discovered her charred and dismembered remains in a wooded area and a burn pit. An investigation of Walker's trailer revealed damning evidence, including traces of blood and a. 22 caliber rifle. Faced with the evidence, Walker confessed to the horrific crime.
Walker recounted a chilling sequence of events. He claimed that while at his home, Heather began talking about her ex-boyfriend, which angered him as it reminded him of his own past relationships. In a fit of rage, he shot her in the leg. After he bandaged her wound, she attempted to defend herself with mace and flee, at which point he shot her a second time, killing her. He then burned her body in a fire pit for an extended period before dismembering her remains with a chainsaw.
Initially charged with first-degree murder, Brenton Walker eventually accepted a plea deal. He pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and felony firearm possession. Throughout the legal proceedings, Walker displayed a shocking lack of remorse. He made statements in court that he felt 'vindicated' and had 'never felt better' in his life. During his sentencing, as Heather's family gave emotional impact statements, Walker was seen laughing. In June 2017, he was sentenced to 45 to 70 years in prison.
