TOPEKA – (September 13, 2024) –Steven L. Hanks, 70 of Burden, was sentenced to up to 25 years in prison for the 1980 murder of 23-year-old Mary Robin Walter.

Hanks killed Walter in her Great Bend home in 1980, but no arrests were made for her death at the time. The Barton County Sheriff’s Office reopened the cold case in 2022. Sgt. Detective Adam Hales and Lt. David Paden re-interviewed Hanks, a neighbor of Walter at the time, and a previous suspect. In his interviews, Hanks admitted to killing Walter.  Hanks was arrested and charged with the murder in December 2022. Hanks plead guilty in a Barton County District Court on August 7, 2024.

On Sept. 12, District Court Judge Steven Johnson sentenced Hanks to serve a minimum of 10 years and a maximum of 25 years in the custody of the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Associate Deputy Attorney General Jessica Domme prosecuted the case. The Barton County Sheriff’s Office led the investigation, with assistance from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.

“I am grateful for the diligence of Sgt. Det. Hales and Lt. Paden and the Barton County Sheriff’s Office for providing Robin’s family with closure after all this time,” Domme said.  “Robin’s killer was finally brought to justice because of their dedication and commitment to this cold case.” 
 

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