Ryan Walton
(KATY, TX) – (UPDATED May 30, 4:14 p.m.) Law enforcement agencies statewide have been notified to be on the lookout for a person of interest in a double homicide case that occurred late Thursday night in a Katy-area subdivision.
The person of interest is one of the Waltons’ four children: Ryan Walton, 20. He previously attended Texas A&M University at Corpus Christi, but no longer attends the college.
Ryan Walton’s whereabouts are unknown.
If anyone has knowledge of the whereabouts of Ryan Walton, they are asked to contact the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch at 281-341-4665 or the Fort Bend County Crime Stoppers, Inc. TIPS Hotline at 281-342-TIPS (8477).
UPDATE: Ryan Walton Charged with Murder in Parents’ Deaths
—-
The Walton’s home can be seen prominently inside the gates of Lake Pointe Estates. Dennis Spellman photo
A double homicide has rocked a quiet, upscale Fort Bend County neighborhood.
Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy Nehls identified the victims as Michael Walton, 54, and his wife Lynda Walton, 52. Both were shot with a small-caliber weapon.
Investigators said one of their other sons discovered their bodies Thursday afternoon when he returned home. That son called 911 around 5:15 p.m.
When deputies arrived at the home in the affluent Lake Pointe Estates subdivision in Katy, they found the Waltons dead on the first floor.
Investigators said there was some sign of forced entry into the home, but nothing was missing. They do not believe it was a home invasion, but did not say why.
The Latest News Headlines, Traffic and Weather: Follow @news92fm
Deputies are looking for one of their sons, Ryan Robert Walton. They haven’t been able to contact him, but the rest of the family has been notified.
“He’s the only member of the Walton family that we have not been able to contact, and we are concerned for his safety,” Nehls said.
Nehls also admitted that they want to question him to see where he was yesterday and if he knows anything about his parents death.
The Waltons’ daughter is a Katy High School student. She is believed to be the last person to have seen them before they were killed.
Michael Walton is a prominent developer from Katy who developed the Lake Pointe Estates neighborhood — a gated community off Westheimer Parkway at Roesner with tight security.
Neighbors called their home in the 24900 block of North Point Place the “Governor’s House.” The home can be seen prominently as motorists enter through the front gate. The home is valued by the county at $1.4 million dollars.
Deputies are continuing to process the scene.
Residents of Lake Point Estates are reacting to the news. Neighbor David Roberson says he does not let his guard down, even though you have to check in with a security guard before entering the neighborhood.
“Just because we have security out there does not mean that we can relax at home and say everything is fine, so we take safeguards,” Roberson said.
A security officer tells us you have to provide your driver’s license before entering the neighborhood, and then a phone call is made to the resident for approval.
Katy High School Principal Dr. Steve Robertson sent out the following e-mail Thursday night to parents:
“It is with profound sadness that I inform you that the father and mother of a student who is a senior at KHS passed away this evening as the result of a fatal shooting. Many of our students may have been friends or classmates with the student affected, or have known the family. This student also has a sibling who was a former graduate of KHS. Please know that tomorrow morning we will be doing everything that we can to help our students and staff who may have been touched by this heartbreaking experience. Counselors will be on campus to help students as needed. Over the next few days, you may wish to encourage your student to express his or her feelings and listen attentively. It will be helpful to recognize the various steps that we all go through in the grieving process: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. This is very sad situation for the family involved and our school community. We will continue to extend our thoughts and prayers to those most impacted by this tragedy as they begin the healing process.”
This story was developed in partnership with CoveringKaty.com.
Statewide Search for Ryan Walton, Person of Interest in Parents’ Murder was originally published on news92fm.com
