Body Found In Memphis Confirmed As Missing Baby; Mother Charged With First Degree Murder

By Glenda Warren

The mother of a missing 7 week old baby in Memphis, TN, Andrea Walker, has been arrested and charged with first degree murder of her daughter, Aniston Walker.

The body of a baby was found in a ditch near Jones Orchard in Millington, TN on Sunday by a man who was out for a motorcycle ride. He pulled over to wait for friends and spotted what appeared to be the body of a baby, less than a year of age, dressed in a onesie. Memphis police were called to the scene since first responders knew of their well-publicized missing baby case. Police noted that the body seemed to have been there for some time and covered the corpse until a forensic team could arrive to collect evidence needed to identify the baby.

Monday morning, Andrea Walker, turned herself in and was booked and officially charged with first degree murder. The identity of the baby was soon after confirmed as Aniston Walker, the infant who had been reported missing since January.

According to WREG, Memphis police confirmed the identity of the infant’s body through a news release, “It is heartbreaking to confirm that an innocent child’s life has been taken, but now family members of Aniston Walker can have closure and begin the healing process of losing a loved one,” said Director Toney Armstrong.

Andrea Walker was first arrested in January after telling police that she had left her 7 week old baby home alone with her 3 year old son while she took her 5 year old son to school. When she returned she said the baby was missing but the 3 year old was still there.

Police searched the surrounding area for three days prior to ending their search, but stated that the mother was still a chief suspect in the case.

Walker’s attorney, Leslie Ballin, had appealed to the judge that his client was not a flight risk and held a fulltime job at the IRS with no prior arrests. The judge reduced Walker’s bond from $500,000 to $250,000, and reduced charges against the mother from four charges of aggravated child abuse down to two charges. It’s the two aggravated child abuse charges against the 3 year old that were dropped. Walker later posted bond.

Andrea Walker now faces two charges of first degree murder, more specifically First Degree Murder in the Perpetration of a Felony to wit Aggravated Child Neglect or Endangerment and First Degree Murder in the Perpetration of a Felony to wit Aggravated Child Abuse.

Source: WREG

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Glenda Warren is an experienced marketing and communications professional that provides social commentary, self-help, tips, and reports news of events that matter to African Americans.