Tampa man accused in 14-year-old’s death once got life, but got out

TAMPA — The man accused of klling 14-year-old Nilexia Alexander was as soon as condemned to spend the remainder of his life in jail.

Ronny Tremel Walker in 2010 was discovered responsible of manslaughter for taking pictures Elaine Lanier Caldwell in her head throughout a house invasion theft.

However there have been issues with Walker’s trial. An enchantment despatched the case again to courtroom. Attorneys then struck a deal: a responsible plea in alternate for eight years.

He bought out in 2016. A subsequent probation violation despatched him again for 4 extra years.

Walker, 44, final left jail in November. Nilexia was killed in May.

Questions on Walker’s journey via the felony justice system loomed over a information convention Friday at Tampa police headquarters, the place police reiterated information of his arrest.

“The fact is that most individuals who undergo the felony justice system don’t go to jail for all times,” mentioned Hillsborough State Legal professional Andrew Warren. “Again in 2010, I’m assured the State Legal professional’s Workplace did all the pieces they may to convict him of the cost in opposition to him.”

Police declined to reply questions on how they got here to suspect it was Walker who killed Nilexia.

However a courtroom paper filed late Friday in search of to carry Walker in jail whereas he awaits trial illuminated an investigation that relied closely on surveillance video and cellphone data.

The crime occurred a bit earlier than 4 a.m. Might 6, in a vacant, weed-choked lot at 110 W Floribraska Ave. simply south of Tampa Heights. Neighbors reported listening to gunshots. Somebody stepped exterior and located a woman mendacity useless within the area. She’d been shot in her head.

On her proper arm, police observed a tattoo that bore the title “Arthur.” When a picture of the tattoo was broadcast on native TV, Ashley Alexander acknowledged it as her daughter’s. She phoned police, who confirmed it was Nilexia. The lady had run away from her mom’s Temple Terrace residence 10 days earlier than she was discovered useless.

Video surveillance from Floribraska Avenue confirmed a darkish sedan turning round within the useless finish, then stopping close to the sector for about 30 seconds. The automobile drove away with its headlights off. Pictures from metropolis surveillance cameras recorded the automobile, a Ford Fusion, shifting via downtown towards Tampa Normal Hospital. On the hospital, cameras caught the license plate, which was registered to Walker.

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Police recognized a quantity for a cellphone that Nilexia used. Data of the cellphone sign confirmed it appeared to take the identical path because the automobile, in accordance with the courtroom paper.

Police obtained a search warrant for Walker’s automobile. They discovered blood on the entrance and rear passenger doorways. DNA exams matched the blood to Nilexia.

When questioned, Walker claimed he didn’t know her, the paper states.

Police positioned extra video from close to the Belmont Heights residence the place he was staying. At 3 a.m. Might 6, Nilexia was seen strolling within the space, dressed the best way she was discovered, moving into Walker’s automobile, the paper states.

The paper notes that after the crime, the automobile stopped at a fuel station close to Armenia and Hillsborough avenues. Video confirmed Walker getting out to pump fuel. One other man was seen within the entrance passenger seat.

It’s not clear if any extra arrests are forthcoming.

Ashley Alexander stood Friday in Tampa police headquarters earlier than a financial institution of TV cameras and broke into tears.

“I need to thank God for today,” she mentioned of the arrest. “To the Tampa Police Division detectives, I thanks all from the underside of my coronary heart.”

Division of Corrections data present Walker has been to jail six occasions since his late teenagers. He has a litany of prior convictions that embody housebreaking and grand theft.

The killing of Elaine Caldwell occurred a few months after his launch in 2003.

Courtroom data and information archives depict a horrific crime.

Raymond Lee would testify that he was clipping his girlfriend’s granddaughter’s toenails within the den of his residence on Eskimo Avenue when a person he’d by no means seen earlier than walked in wielding a gun. The person held a finger to his lips in a gesture to remain quiet.

He patted down Lee, took $500, and requested the place he stored the remainder. Lee mentioned he didn’t know what the person was speaking about. The person requested who else was residence. Lee instructed him his girlfriend was in the master suite.

The person grabbed Lee round his neck with one arm and grabbed the lady, Veronica Turner, with the opposite. He pointed the gun at Lee’s head as he moved them to the bed room.

Caldwell, who was perming her hair, screamed when she noticed the stranger with the gun.

“Shut up,” the person instructed her. She stored screaming.

He shot her within the head.

Veronica then began to scream.

The person knelt, kissed the lady on the top and spoke. He mentioned he wouldn’t shoot her, as a result of he had a daughter himself, Lee later recalled. He requested once more the place there was extra money. The lady instructed him there was cash in a automobile trunk.

They went exterior to a automobile. After Lee opened the empty trunk, he grabbed the person’s arm. The person dropped the gun. Because the pair struggled, Lee instructed Veronica to run. She took off.

The person later picked up the gun and ran away.

A few month after the taking pictures, Lee instructed police he’d heard data “from the streets” that finally led him to establish Walker’s mug shot in a web-based database.

Though Walker was thought of a suspect, the case remained unsolved for a number of years earlier than he was charged in 2009 with felony homicide. Within the interim, Walker returned to jail for drug-related convictions, data point out.

He was charged with first-degree felony homicide in 2009. A trial ended with a hung jury.

Earlier than a second trial, the state lowered the cost to second-degree homicide. A second jury discovered Walker responsible of manslaughter.

His standing as a repeat felony introduced a life sentence.

“At this time you’ll be held to account for the vicious crime,” Choose Emmett Lamar Battles instructed him at sentencing. “Justice is a very long time coming for Elaine Caldwell, her household and for you.”

Then got here the enchantment — rumour testimony at trial overturned the conviction — and the lowered sentence.

“This introduced again so many recollections,” Caldwell’s daughter, Veronica Denson, mentioned Friday. “This man is an animal. I simply need them to do all the pieces of their energy to not let this man stroll once more on the road.”