The Cheater – The Murder of Walter Scott
I do not usually post about creepy modern murders, for there are too many and sadly this is not solely a true crime blog.
Today though, I found some photos that lend a bit more to the telling of Walter Notheis, Jr’s murder…aka Walter Scott…aka “The Cheater Murder”.
The Cheater was a hit song by Bob Kuban and the In-Men in 1966. They had sort of a “blue-eyed soul” sound and had even performed on American Bandstand. They are also listed in the RnR Hall of Fame in the One-Hit Wonder section. Walter Scott was their singer:
Walter was murdered on December 27, 1983. He was found wearing a jogging suit, socks and was likely ambushed by Jim Williams as he was found shot in the back. Several theories abound, but most likely he was killed while walking in his house, reading the paper or watching TV during the late evening. Walter’s wife was having an affair with her electrician, Big Jim.
This jealous lover, one Big Jim Williams, also killed his own wife in order to solidify their union. Jim and JoAnn would not live happily ever after. It would take four years to find Walter’s body and another 4 or 5 to bring the case to trial. There were a lot of legal issues and mistakes made by the prosecution and police. Big Jim was an oaf of a man, a rather successful local businessman and had a lot of community support from his friends. In smaller circles, he referred to the handsome Walter as a “Jack Off”. He also told several friends and relatives things like “Walter won’t be coming back”.
Walter’s body was found at Jim Williams’ house, floating in a cistern in the backyard. The cistern had been disguised as a big flowerbed. Author Harry Spiller spins the tale:

Before his murder in December of 1983, Walter and Bob Kuban had reunited and were rehearsing and playing at the Fox Theatre in their hometown of St. Louis.

The house as it looks today. The cistern area in the back has been cemented over with a new patio, as it appears from satellite view.

Walter Scott’s house, present day. After the murder, Walter’s elderly parents would drive by and give Jim the evil eye after he married and moved in with Walter’s widow, JoAnn.
JoAnn and Big Jim told a friend that Jim followed Walter into downtown St. Louis to this fancy high-rise apartment building:
However, that could have been just a story, but if not, then Jim may have followed Walter into this garage. Walter may have gone to the apartments to visit a friend. Big Jim was 6’6″ tall, maybe he overpowered Walter and tied him up to abduct and kill him later?

Two months before Walter was murdered, Jim Williams killed his wife Sharon and set it up as a wreck. She was driving this year, model and color of Cadillac.

Her head was on the center floorboard with feet and legs near the passenger door. There was the smell and presence of gasoline but no rupture in the fuel tank. The back of her head showed signs of blunt force trauma.
Check out the HBO Autopsy episode (Warning! Creepy Alert!):
Bonnie Brae 8:04 am on November 21, 2012 Permalink |
The part about the parents driving by to give Jim the evil eye made me laugh.
John 11:13 am on November 21, 2012 Permalink |
😉 There is a great documentary about this on YouTube but it’s in French. C’est La Vie!
rosie 5:59 pm on July 7, 2016 Permalink |
this ferencic files story was so creepy. i could not sleep that night , and i could not get that song out of my head