ORANGE PARK, Fla. — It’s been almost a month since a trailer of nearly $15,000 in memorabilia was stolen from the Days Inn, in Orange Park.
The Orange Park Police Department says so far, it hasn’t had much luck in getting back any of the stolen property, but with a warrant out for the suspect’s arrest, they’re hoping they’ll be able to get their hands on some of it.
Investigators say 38-year-old William Walker is the suspect linked to the Jimmie Van Zant charity’s stolen trailer. A trailer that vice president of the charity Joe Willut said contained nearly $15,000 of iconic Rock N’ Roll memorabilia.
“We haven’t replaced anything as of yet,” Willut said.
In a picture of Walker given to Action News Jax by police, Orange Park Police Department say Walker has very detailed tattoos on his body. He has a spider tattoo on his shoulder and praying hands on his forearms.
Action News Jax Ben Ryan went to his last known address and a woman who claimed to be his in-law didn’t want her face shown, but said she just heard about the incident Friday morning and expected something like this to happen.
“Maybe, not as big as that, but yes” she said.
Police say Walker is known to live on the go, jumping from hotel to hotel in the Jacksonville area.
The in-law told Action News Jax she hasn’t seen Walker since 2015 but hopes justice gets served for the charity.
“It’s not hurting him or his family, it’s hurting a lot more because it was for charity,” the in-law said. “You don’t mess with charity, it’s for people who need it and that was just wrong.”
After digging through Walker’s criminal history, Action News Jax found 17 run-ins with the law.
Charges include aggravated battery and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
As for Willut, he’s hoping for some closure.
“It’s hard but we have to go on, we have to help people out there with cancer, so you have to take it as it comes,” he said.
Members of the Jimmie Van Zant charity say it’s been heartbreaking someone would do this. The Orange Park Police Department ask if you have any information to help find Walker, give them a call immediately.
Cox Media Group
