Man sentenced to 45 years for 2008 stabbing murder

Online Staff Report

Walter Woodard, 24, was sentenced by Judge Ronald White June 6 to 45 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for the first-degree murder of Allen Nathanial Walker. Woodard was found guilty after a bench trial Oct. 18, 2011, by Judge White.

May 27, 2008, Rockford police officers were dispatched to 916 N. Winnebago St. Upon arrival, officers encountered Woodard outside the apartment building. He was covered in blood and bleeding from his hands.

Inside the upstairs apartment, police locate the victim, Walker lying on the floor suffering from multiple stab wounds. After interviewing an eye witness and completing their investigation, Woodard was arrested for first-degree murder. A subsequent autopsy determined the victim died after suffering from 16 stab wounds.

The penalty range for first-degree murder is 20 to 60 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. The defendant will serve 100 percent of his sentence.

Posted June 7, 2012