Henrico man pleads guilty in woman’s death

Henrico man guilty in shooting death of father's girlfriend

A Henrico County man who readily told investigators last year that he shot and killed his elderly, disabled father's girlfriend wasn't quite as ready to admit his crime before a judge.

After balking at a guilty plea last week at a hurriedly called court appearance, James A. Walker Sr., 49, told Judge Daniel T. Balfour of Henrico Circuit Court yesterday that he is guilty of the first-degree murder of 49-year-old Susan D. Fitzpatrick.

"Yes, your honor," Walker asserted in a firm voice, when asked if he realized the plea means he cannot appeal and that he faces 20 years to life in prison.

Balfour, who was to preside over a two-day jury trial in the case this week, set three hours aside May 21 to hear defense lawyer Taylor B. Stone and prosecutors argue the matter of how much time Walker should serve.

Stone declined comment yesterday after court except to say he expects the circumstances of the unusual case to mitigate Walker's exposure to a long sentence.

Court records show that Walker told homicide detectives he would kill Fitzpatrick again if given the chance and related his disgust over his belief that Fitzpatrick was draining his father's estate.

"He knew he was going to hell and to jail, but he would do it again," detectives wrote in court documents, summarizing Walker's comments after his arrest.

"She was evil. She was going to kill his 'Daddy,' so he killed her before she killed him."

The father, an accountant, had become infatuated with Fitzpatrick, who moved into the Walker family's home. In text messages to friends, she expressed a fondness for Walker's father but also related that she would move on to another mate after the 70-year-old widower's death, court records show.

Nothing has come to light publicly to suggest she planned Walker's father's death.

Police were called to the Walker home in the 6600 block of Miller Road in eastern Henrico in August after James A. Walker Sr. shot Fitzpatrick multiple times.

Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Michelle L. Marken told Balfour yesterday that Walker test-fired the rifle in the garage and then went to the front of the home, knowing that Fitzpatrick would likely answer the door.

When she did, Walker immediately shot her in the forehead. As she writhed on the floor, he said, he shot her four more times, twice more in the head and two times in the chest. One slug tore through her heart, Marken said.

Walker had been unemployed in recent years and kept to himself in a garage room. It has not been made clear how Fitzpatrick and Walker's father met, but the relationship apparently formed several months after Walker's mother died in a fire at the home.

Contact Bill McKelway at (804) 649-6601 or .