Belleville News-Democrat, The (IL)



Belleville News-Democrat, The (IL)

January 11, 2007

MADCO: MURDER SUSPECT, HELD FOR 2 WEEKS, IS RELEASED

Author: George Pawlaczyk

Evidence frees Washington Park man

News-Democrat

CAHOKIA --- For almost two weeks, Walter N. Jennings sat in a St. Clair County Jail cell, insisting he had nothing to do with the stabbing death of Alison Stahl.

On Wednesday, all charges, including first-degree murder against Jennings, of Washington Park, were dropped and he was released.

The nude body of the 24-year old New Baden mother of two was found along a shoreline in Frank Holten State Park on Dec. 29. Jennings was arrested the same day.

Jennings, 34, said that about 12:30 p.m. a guard told him to "bump and jump," jail slang for get ready to be moved; in this case back to the street.

During an interview at his mother's Cahokia home, a relieved Jennings said an ex-girlfriend made a statement that caused him to be arrested and charged.

"I had broke up with her and the next thing I know she's going crazy saying stuff and I'm in jail," Jennings said.

"I don't know the lady from New Baden. I never met her. I never heard of her."

Lt. Mark Bramlett of the Illinois State Police, who heads the investigation of Stahl's death, said new evidence resulted in the release of Jennings.

"As a result of our ongoing investigation, some fresh evidence led us to a different direction away from Mr. Jennings, and, as a result of that, Mr. Jennings has been released from custody," Bramlett said. He declined to discuss the nature of the new evidence.

"At this point I can't really comment on other potential suspects until they're been charged," Bramlett said, "but we do anticipate further arrests."

On Dec. 14, a day after Stahl was reported missing, Lashonda Walker, 26, and Eaze Harper, 24, were arrested in East St. Louis in Stahl's missing 1995 Jeep Cherokee, and charged with robbery and weapons counts unrelated to the murder, police have said. They remain in the St. Clair County Jail in lieu of bail.

Bramlett said he could not comment about any link between Walker and Harper and the murder because no suspects have been charged in connection with Stahl's murder.

Tom Stahl of New Baden, the victim's father, has said his daughter had a longstanding problem with addiction to crack cocaine, and that hospitalization and time at a drug rehabilitation clinic did not result in a cure. He said she probably had gone to East St. Louis to buy the drug.

After police informed him of Jennings' release, Stahl said, "I trust the people that are involved in the investigation. I have faith in those people. I'm glad an innocent man was set free."

Jennings said he was riding in a car with a new girlfriend and friends when the vehicle was pulled over and two Illinois State Police officers told him to get out.

"I'm like `What'd I do?' And everybody in the car said, `What's he getting arrested for,' and the detective said, `He's going down for murder.' I couldn't believe it," Jennings recounted.

Tyrone Jennings said he knew his brother had nothing to do with Stahl's murder.

"I know my brother would never kill anyone. He's a religious person," he said, "We're a religious family."

Contact reporter George Pawlaczyk at gpawlaczyk@ and 239-2625.

Copyright (c) 2007 The Belleville News-Democrat

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