Married couple arrested and charged with murdering newly engaged off-duty Texas police officer 

  • Phillip Walter, 29, and his wife, Violetta Walter, 30, charged with first-degree felony murder in the killing of Officer Don Allen
  • Allen, 27, was found dead at his West Texas home Monday evening 
  • Police say they found physical evidence at the crime scene linking the Walters to the killing and seized property that belonged to Allen 

Police in Texas have arrested a married couple and charged them in the killing of an off-duty Abilene officer earlier this week.

Officer Don Allen, 27, was discovered dead under suspicious circumstances at his West Texas home at around 7pm Monday. 

On Thursday, Abilene Police Chief Stan Standridge announced the arrests of Phillip Walter, 29, and his 30-year-old wife, Violetta Walter, on first-degree felony murder charges carrying a sentence of up to 99 years to life.

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Slain: Officer Don Allen, 27, of the Abilene Police Department, was found dead in his West Texas home Monday

Slain: Officer Don Allen, 27, of the Abilene Police Department, was found dead in his West Texas home Monday

Philip Walter, 29
Violetta Walter, 30

Arrested: On Thursday evening, police arrested Phillip Walter (left), 29, and his 30-year-old wife, Violetta Walter (right), on first-degree felony murder charges in Allen's death

Expressive: Violetta and Phillip, both of Abilene, have been married for nine years

Expressive: Violetta and Phillip, both of Abilene, have been married for nine years

The pair have been ordered held on $500,000 bond each.

According to Chief Standridge, police discovered property taken from Allen's home near Clyde in the Walters' possession.

Investigators also reportedly found physical evidence at the crime scene tying Phillip and Violetta Walter to the killing, reported the station KTXS

So far, officials have not released any details on the cause and manner of the officer's death.

Police officers executed arrest warrants Thursday evening, taking the Walter couple into custody at around 6pm at an apartment complex in the 1000 block of South clack Street in Abilene.

During a press conference held following the arrests, Chief Standridge said: ‘We are confident we have taken the right people into custody. We do not believe there are any other suspects.’

The announcement came about five hours after a press briefing in which police revealed that they were looking for two 'persons of interest' who were seen leaving the area of the crime scene in a late 1990s maroon car.

According to Phillip Walter's Facebook page, the 29-year-old is a native of Panama City, Florida, living in Abilene.  

He and Violetta Phillips have been married since 2006 and have three young children together. 

The page also indicates that Mr Walter studied criminal justice at Abilene Christian University.

Officer Allen's funeral was scheduled to take place at 10am Friday at Beltway Park Church, followed by a burial in his hometown of Clyde.

Trail of clues: Police say they found physical evidence at the crime scene linking the Walters to the killing, and also seized property from them that belonged to Officer Allen. Phillip Walter is seen here during his arrest 

Trail of clues: Police say they found physical evidence at the crime scene linking the Walters to the killing, and also seized property from them that belonged to Officer Allen. Phillip Walter is seen here during his arrest 

Phillip Walter studied criminal justice in college
Violetta Walter and her husband have three children

Phillip Walter studied criminal justice in college. He and his wife have three children together (pictured left)

Allen, who had worked as a police officer since his early 20s - first in Cisco and then in Abilene. The 27-year-old only recently had gotten engaged to his girlfriend Sarha Waters. 

He is one of three police officers who were killed in the US in less than a week.  

Harris County Sheriff's Deputy Darren Goforth was shot dead at a gas station near Houston while filling up his patrol car last Saturday. 

On Tuesday, Officer Charles Joseph Gliniewicz, 52, of Fox Lake, Illinois, died of gunshot wounds while pursuing three suspects.   

Allen had been in law enforcement since his early 20s
He only recently had gotten engaged to his girlfriend

To protect and serve: Allen had been in law enforcement since his early 20s. He only recently had gotten engaged to his girlfriend (seen left and right) 

 

 

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