April 23, 2022 - Valley Crimestoppers has secured a private cash donation of $8,000 to go toward the investigation into the death of 27-year-old Bessie Walker of Auberry. This money, coupled with the existing $2,000 offered by Valley Crime Stoppers, brings the total reward to $10,000. Fresno County Sheriff’s detectives consider Walker’s death to be suspicious and are seeking the public’s help to learn more about what happened to her.
Walker was last seen on either Wednesday, August 4th or Thursday, August 5th, 2021. Family members filed a missing persons report with our office on August 8th, 2021. She was last seen near Mono Wind Casino in Auberry wearing a pink dress and sandals. Detectives learned she was known to visit the city of Fresno, but there was no information to show she was in any sort of danger.
Several detectives were assigned to the case and hundreds of hours were spent investigating the disappearance of Walker. During this time, our office received information of several locations where Walker might be. Deputies searched all of those locations, but were never able to find her.
On the night of August 21st, family and friends of Walker’s who had formed a search party, contacted the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office. While on a piece of private property along the 37000 block of Auberry Mission Road, the group discovered a body that appeared to match that of Bessie Walker. Deputies arrived and located the deceased person. Detectives and the Crime Scene Unit also responded to collect evidence. The body was later identified as 27-year-old Bessie Walker.
Members of the Fresno County Coroner’s Office performed an autopsy on Walker and the cause of death was found to be undetermined. The case remained an ongoing investigation.
Anyone with additional information about Bessie Walker is asked to please contact the Detective Jose Diaz at (559) 600-8204 or Crime Stoppers at (559) 498-7867, www.valleycrimestoppers.org You will remain anonymous and may be eligible for the $10,000 cash reward.
Source: Fresno County Sheriff's Office
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