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Husband is suspect in strange death of wife

Wife died two days before 911 call, says coroner’s office.

Scott A. Walker, 55, was arrested pending a review of the case by the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office.

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Staff report Updated 12:57 AM Saturday, September 3, 2011

DAYTON — A Centerville man arrested Thursday in connection with his wife’s death was being released Friday as investigators and prosecutors await the result of toxicology tests, according to the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office.

Scott A. Walker, 55, was facing possible involuntary manslaughter charges after the Montgomery Coroner’s Office determined his wife died at least two days prior to his 911 call for help.

According to a statement from Centerville police, Walker called 911 at 8:45 a.m. Thursday saying that his wife passed away during the night. Police found Tamela Schroeder-Walker, 51, at 2614 E. Centerville-Station Road. An investigation showed she had died under suspicious circumstances, but police declined to elaborate on the manner of her death.

The coroner’s preliminary findings said the cause of death was brain damage caused by blunt force trauma. How that trauma occurred remains unknown, according to the findings.

“(I)nvestigators and assistant prosecutors agreed that further investigation, including toxicology testing, is need before any charges are filed,” read a statement from the prosecutor’s office.

In a 911 recording, Walker can be heard telling a dispatcher that his wife “took a crash the other night getting up to go to the bathroom.” He says she doesn’t appear to be breathing and he can’t find a pulse, but says he doesn’t want emergency personnel to rush. He mentions that his wife possibly had a do not resuscitate order.

“I think she has passed away,” he told the dispatcher.

“She died at least 48 hours before her husband called 911,” said Ken Betz, director of the Miami Valley Regional Crime Laboratory.

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