Walter Thomas Ackerson, Jr. was born on July 6, 1973 in Kettle Falls, Washington. He grew up in Puyallup, Washington and lived with his mother Karen. In March of 1990, he joined the federal Job Corps program and moved to Yachats, Oregon under the consent of his mother, who thought the Job Corps would be good for him; the students were supervised and he could get his GED. Walter was very happy to enter Job Corps and he chose culinary arts as his career interest.
On March 24, 1990, Walter and several older Job Corps members left the facility and hitchhiked to Nye Beach in Newport, Oregon. Walter was never seen alive again. The next day, his friends returned to Job Corps without him, saying that he disappeared on the beach while they were playing football. His fellow Job Corps members stuck with this story until August 2009, when one of the men confessed to Walter's murder. He said that he, along with a few friends, took Walter hitchhiking with them to Newport on the day of March 24th. Late in the evening, after becoming intoxicated, he beat Walter to death and threw him off the Yaquina Bay Bridge. The man who confessed was charged with murder in 2010.
Walter left behind his mother, Karen, and many extended friends and family. He is missed by all who knew and loved him.
On March 24, 1990, Walter and several older Job Corps members left the facility and hitchhiked to Nye Beach in Newport, Oregon. Walter was never seen alive again. The next day, his friends returned to Job Corps without him, saying that he disappeared on the beach while they were playing football. His fellow Job Corps members stuck with this story until August 2009, when one of the men confessed to Walter's murder. He said that he, along with a few friends, took Walter hitchhiking with them to Newport on the day of March 24th. Late in the evening, after becoming intoxicated, he beat Walter to death and threw him off the Yaquina Bay Bridge. The man who confessed was charged with murder in 2010.
Walter left behind his mother, Karen, and many extended friends and family. He is missed by all who knew and loved him.
Walter Thomas Ackerson, Jr. was born on July 6, 1973 in Kettle Falls, Washington. He grew up in Puyallup, Washington and lived with his mother Karen. In March of 1990, he joined the federal Job Corps program and moved to Yachats, Oregon under the consent of his mother, who thought the Job Corps would be good for him; the students were supervised and he could get his GED. Walter was very happy to enter Job Corps and he chose culinary arts as his career interest.
On March 24, 1990, Walter and several older Job Corps members left the facility and hitchhiked to Nye Beach in Newport, Oregon. Walter was never seen alive again. The next day, his friends returned to Job Corps without him, saying that he disappeared on the beach while they were playing football. His fellow Job Corps members stuck with this story until August 2009, when one of the men confessed to Walter's murder. He said that he, along with a few friends, took Walter hitchhiking with them to Newport on the day of March 24th. Late in the evening, after becoming intoxicated, he beat Walter to death and threw him off the Yaquina Bay Bridge. The man who confessed was charged with murder in 2010.
Walter left behind his mother, Karen, and many extended friends and family. He is missed by all who knew and loved him.
On March 24, 1990, Walter and several older Job Corps members left the facility and hitchhiked to Nye Beach in Newport, Oregon. Walter was never seen alive again. The next day, his friends returned to Job Corps without him, saying that he disappeared on the beach while they were playing football. His fellow Job Corps members stuck with this story until August 2009, when one of the men confessed to Walter's murder. He said that he, along with a few friends, took Walter hitchhiking with them to Newport on the day of March 24th. Late in the evening, after becoming intoxicated, he beat Walter to death and threw him off the Yaquina Bay Bridge. The man who confessed was charged with murder in 2010.
Walter left behind his mother, Karen, and many extended friends and family. He is missed by all who knew and loved him.
