RIVERSIDE (CNS) - A probationer accused of torturing and killing a 39- year-old Jurupa Valley man was charged today with first-degree murder and other offenses.
Tavae Fernon Stalks Walker, 30, of Fontana was arrested Sunday following a Riverside County Sheriff's Department investigation into the death of Byron Graves.
Along with murder, Walker is charged with mayhem, torture and a special circumstance allegation of inflicting torture to commit murder.
The defendant made his initial court appearance Wednesday afternoon before Superior Court Judge Gail O'Rane, who appointed him a public defender and ordered him held without bail at the Robert Presley Jail in Riverside.
The judge scheduled Walker's arraignment for May 25 at the Riverside Hall of Justice.
According to sheriff's Sgt. Ben Ramirez, on Saturday night, Walker was involved in an unspecified dispute with the victim in the area of Harrel and Parkhurst streets in Jurupa Valley.
Investigators alleged that during the encounter, the defendant assaulted Graves for an unspecified period of time, causing mortal injuries, which weren't described in court documents.
A possible motive was not disclosed.
Witnesses found the victim dead in a parked vehicle at about 11:45 p.m. Saturday and called 911, Ramirez said.
He said Central Homicide Unit detectives quickly developed leads pointing to Walker as the alleged assailant and notified surrounding law enforcement agencies.
Fontana police officers located and arrested the convicted felon without incident on Cherry Avenue at about 3:30 p.m. Sunday, then turned him over to sheriff's personnel, according to Ramirez.
According to court records, Walker has prior convictions for assault with a deadly weapon and spousal abuse.
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