Man Accused Of Killing Mother Had Stabbed A Relative Before: Cops

STRATFORD, CT — A man accused of stabbing his mother to death in her Stratford home was on probation for assaulting a family member at the time of the fatal stabbing, court officials said Monday.

Thomas Walker, 34, is charged with murder after he went to the Stratford police station 5:30 a.m. Friday to report a body. Officers found his mother, Pamela Walker, dead and covered with stab wounds in her Baird Court home, according to police.

“It’s a disturbing and incredibly sad case,” Judge Tracy Lee Dayton said.

At his arraignment Monday, court personnel gave a detailed overview of Thomas Walker’s extensive criminal history, which includes convictions for selling narcotics, violating probation, carrying a dangerous weapon, and, on multiple occasions, assault.

Thomas Walker previously stabbed a family member five times in 2019, a relative told police after Pamela Walker’s death, adding that Pamela Walker feared her son so much that she slept with a knife under her pillow. Thomas Walker is a Milford resident but had recently been living with his mother in Stratford.

After a psychiatric episode in April, officers learned Thomas Walker was not taking his mental health medications, according to a police report.

Last week, when detectives told Thomas Walker his mother was dead, he showed no emotion and said he did not remember what happened to her, the report said. Detectives did not find the weapon used to kill Pamela Walker but did find bloody clothing in Thomas Walker’s bedroom, as well as evidence someone called 911 using his cell phone about 1:30 a.m. Friday but then hung up, the report said.

“This is a strong case that we have against Mr. Walker; I think the facts speak for themselves,” prosecutor Kevin Dunn said as he told Dayton the state was requesting a $3 million bail.

Public defender Caroline Gallucci said Thomas Walker denied the allegations and requested a $500,000 bail.

“It does appear to me that the evidence is very strong on this case,” Dayton said, setting the bail at $2 million.

The arraignment took place remotely, as has become common amid the coronavirus pandemic. Dayton, Dunn and Gallucci were in multiple locations, and Thomas Walker’s family members viewed the proceedings from a screen in a separate courtroom.

Thomas Walker appeared at the hearing behind bars in the lockup facility at the Golden Hill Street courthouse in Bridgeport. He did not speak during the arraignment. As the hearing ended, one family member became teary and confirmed with a court marshal that Walker knew his family was there.

After the arraignment, Thomas Walker’s stepfather, Samuel Dunbar, told Patch that Thomas Walker had mental health issues.

“He was unstable,” said Dunbar, who was married to Pamela Walker for 23 years.

Dunbar said he had had verbal altercations with Thomas Walker and that the family had attempted to contact probation authorities but found them to be unresponsive.

“When we were asking for help, he didn’t get help,” Dunbar said, adding he continues to worry that Thomas Walker won’t receive the assistance he needs.

Connecticut Judicial Branch spokeswoman Rhonda Hebert said the Court Support Services Division does not comment on pending court cases.

During Monday’s arraignment, Dayton placed Thomas Walker on medical, mental health and suicide watch. She also transferred his case to Bridgeport’s Main Street courthouse, where Walker will next appear Oct. 6.