Kansas Man Charged With 1980 Murder of Neighbor

Steven Hanks of Kansas was arrested Thursday and charged with the 1980 murder of his neighbor, 23-year-old Mary Robin Walter. Authorities believe this is the oldest homicide arrest in the state of Kansas.

Walter was a wife, mother, and nursing student at Barton County Community College when she was murdered on January 24, 1980. Her remains were found inside her home at the Nelson Trailer Park in Great Bend, Kansas. She was shot multiple times according to CBS.

Hanks became a person of interest following Walter’s murder, but was not arrested because the police did not have enough evidence. Hanks was arrested in 1981 and charged with rape, battery, robbery, and burglary. He was sentenced in 1983 and discharged in 1993.

In April 2022, Detective Sgt. Adam Hales reopened Walter’s case and found evidence which was overlooked or added at later dates. Along with multiple other detectives, the Sheriff's Office tracked down numerous individuals who were previously involved in the case.

In October, new evidence was found and given to Barton County Attorney Lee Morris to review. After four weeks of review, he obtained an arrest warrant for murder in the second degree and the arrest of Hanks, according to Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir.

Sheriff Bellendir also commented how at 42 years and 10 months, that he believes this is the oldest homicide arrest in the state of Kansas.

Hanks was arrested Thursday at his home in Oxford, Kansas. He is being held on $500,000 bail.