The Murder of Fire Lt. William Walker: A Cleveland Murder for Hire Plot
William Walker was a 45 year old lieutenant with the Cleveland Fire Department, an EMT, and the father of five children. He had served with the department since 1998 and was promoted to lieutenant in 2013. His family and coworkers remembered him as a dedicated first responder and a man who consistently put other people first.
The Night William Walker Was Killed
On November 3, 2013, William was shot outside his Cleveland home after returning from a late night food run. He had gone out at the request of his wife, Uloma Curry-Walker. The case initially went cold, and the reward for information grew as his family, fellow firefighters, and the community waited for answers.
Investigators later learned that Uloma had accumulated significant debt and believed she would receive William’s $100,000 life insurance policy if he died. Prosecutors said she approached her 17 year old daughter and the daughter’s boyfriend, Chad Padgett, to find someone willing to kill William. The plan eventually involved Padgett’s cousin, Christopher Hein, and Ryan Dorty, who prosecutors said carried out the shooting.
A Murder for Hire Plot Exposed by Texts
Text messages became a major part of the case against the people involved. Investigators found messages referring to finding a gun, described as a “ham,” and a message sent after the shooting that said, “We have a body.” The case also revealed how many people knew about the plan and failed to stop it.
Uloma was found guilty of aggravated murder, conspiracy, murder, and felonious assault in 2017. She was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Chad Padgett, Christopher Hein, and Ryan Dorty all accepted plea agreements. Uloma’s daughter was sentenced in juvenile court.
The Insurance Money She Never Received
The plot failed in one more significant way. Although Uloma believed she would collect William’s life insurance policy, he had not updated the beneficiary designation after their marriage. His former wife, Rita Walker, remained the beneficiary and received the money instead.
We cover William’s life and service, the murder for hire plot, the investigation that finally produced answers, and the convictions that followed.