Kansas cold case closes after 44 years with conviction for 1980 murder

In Great Bend, Kansas, a former neighbor has been sentenced to 10 to 25 years in prison for the murder of nursing student Mary Robin Walter, who was killed more than 44 years ago in her trailer home. The case was solved in 2022 after a detective convinced Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir to reopen the investigation and utilize modern technology and techniques.

Steven L. Hanks, now 70 years old, was identified as the suspect with new evidence and his admission in interviews conducted in Burden, Kansas. Hanks pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in August and was sentenced by Barton County District Court Judge Steve Johnson to serve not less than 10 years and not more than 25 years, deviating from the plea agreement.

Sheriff Bellendir expressed regret for those who were affected by the crime and passed away before the suspect was brought to justice, praising the dedicated personnel who worked on solving the case. The .22-caliber handgun found at the crime scene was confirmed as the murder weapon.

Detectives Adam Hales and David Paden reinterviewed Hanks, who was a neighbor of the victim and a previous suspect. Hanks confessed to killing Walter during these interviews, leading to his conviction. Hanks had a prior criminal record and had served time in prison for charges including rape, battery, robbery, and burglary.

The motive behind Walter’s murder was not disclosed in statements from officials. The sheriff and the attorney general’s office did not comment further on the case. The dedication of the detectives and personnel involved in solving this cold case was acknowledged by Associate Deputy Attorney General Jessica Domme.