Walker Sentenced to Life for Attempted First-Degree Murder of his Wife

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces that the Honorable Lindsay Tygart sentenced Austin Walker to two concurrent life sentences in Florida State Prison without the possibility of parole for Attempted First-Degree Murder, Armed Burglary with Assault or Battery, and Aggravated Assault. A jury found Walker guilty of those charges June 22, 2023; he was sentenced during a July 27, 2023, hearing.

On May 14, 2022, members of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a Northside home after receiving a 911 call from a neighbor. A child ran to the neighbor’s home reporting his father had a knife and was threatening his mother. JSO received another call from Walker’s father informing police that Walker had called him and said he killed his wife. Officers established a perimeter around the home and removed the children from inside. Officers then breached the home and found Walker with blood on his pants and left shoe, along with a laceration on his left hand. The victim, Barbara Walker, was found lying on the ground with numerous stab wounds to her neck and torso area. The knife used in the attack was on the counter above her. Barbara Walker was immediately transported to the hospital for emergency surgery to save her life.

Barbara Walker addressed the court before sentencing. “What do we feel after all of this? We feel free. My children have a safe and loving environment to be themselves and grow,” Barbara said. “I know we can survive anything because we have already lived through the worst.”

The case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Jackie Blair and Elisibeth Adams.