Terrible News!  
« on: June 3rd, 2004, 7:24am »

I was notified today by Bob Machen and Steve Benicke that Walter "Walt" Pratt, SK1(SS), who served on the Corporal from 1966-68, was brutally murder May 9,2004, on a highway in Moab Utah.

According to witnesses he had stopped to assist what he thought was a disabled motorist, but who, in actuality, was a fleeing felon/criminal.  The criminal stabbed Walt repeatedly in the face and upper body, killing him and then stealing his vehicle and leaving Walt in the dirt on the side of the road.

Witnesses to this heinous act immediately called 911 and followed the perpetrator providing his location and the police were able to apprehend him. He has allegedly worked a deal with the District Attorney in Moab, Utah, in which the death penalty or life without parole will not be assessed as punishment in return for a guilty plea.  

The Judge in the case, one Lyle Anderson, is scheduled to sentence this animal on the 29th of June, but has the authority to nullify any deals agreed to by the District Attorney and bind him over for trial where the State can seek the most severe punishment.  

It has been requested that those of us who knew Walt, or served with him on Corporal, or just Corporal Sailors, write letters to Judge Anderson, requesting his review of all the evidence and agreements before he makes a decision.

The letters have to be sent to him so he receives them before June 22, so that he will have time to read them and take them into consideration in his decision.

His address is posted here for your convenience.