Walker's widow suspects foul play
Bill Stevenson/Columbia Basin HeraldWilliam Walker, 69, Moses Lake died from an explosion in his workshop Saturday. A hole in the wall was enlarged when evidence was collected by law enforcement and cat litter spread where Walker died.
MOSES LAKE - Dorothy Walker was calm as she spoke about the death of her husband.
William Arleigh Walker, 69, died in the workshop of their home on Fourth Street Southeast, 4 miles east of Moses Lake, on Saturday from an apparent explosion.
Grant County Undersheriff John Turley said law enforcement continues to investigate the explosion, along with a fatal explosion taking place at a home near Stratford Road, just north of Moses Lake.
He said they do not have a reason to believe the two explosions are connected.
William Walker was described as a nice man, often offering to repair things in his workshop, by his wife Dorothy Walker. He was a retired electrician and enjoyed working on projects with his family, added 28 year old grandson Andrew Otto.
William and Dorothy were married for 40 years, with the last 35 years spent in Moses Lake after they moved here so he could take a job.
"He helped everybody. He took a gas tank off for some guy across town," Dorothy said. "If some body walked in and asked for gas, he'd give it to them."
She said he was often fixing things for their nine children, five from a previous marriage, and nine grandchildren.
"They certainly loved him. It was most unbearable to tell them," said Dorothy.
She says the deputies from the Grant County Sheriff's Office has been a great help, but she disagrees with them about the explosion that killed her husband.
"I can't think of any reason in the world why anyone would want to kill him, but that is what I think it was," said Dorothy. "The deputies might hate to hear me say that, but today that is the way I feel."
Javier Martinez Adame, 53, Moses Lake, was killed by a pipe bomb the next day, within roughly 10 hours, according to Turley.
"William) didn't know him. I have never heard of him … it's no body we know," said Dorothy.
She also voice disagreement with a theory that the explosion killing her husband in his workshop was an accident.
"I believe somebody harmed him. It was the violence of it. He was careful. I can't believe he left something … but not like that explosion," Dorothy said.
Otto agrees with his grandmother adding the conditions of the workshop were different than when William regularly worked. Otto found his grandfather after the explosion.
"He never worked in there without the lights on," said Otto. "They were off when I found him … it's been bothering me."
Otto said he used to work with his grandfather on numerous projects in the workshop and at the house.
"He built everything with his own hands," Otto said referring to the home, workshop and yard.
About a week before his death, Dorothy and Williams talked about what to do when they died.
"He told me what he wanted," said Dorothy. "It was a lot to go through … with no definite answers. It's just bizarre."