Walter Hill

Walter Hill (February 7, 1935 – May 2, 1997) was an American serial killer who killed five people between 1952 and 1977. He was convicted of capital murder, sentenced to death, and executed at Holman Correctional Facility in Alabama in 1997. Early life Hill claimed to be a native of Jamaica, but court records indicate that he was born in Midway, Alabama. He was born on February 7, 1935. Murders In 1952, 17 year old Hill, beat a man named Sam Atmore to death with a board in Adamsville, Alabama. He pleaded guilty to second degree murder and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Hill was sent to Atmore State Prison Farm. Shortly before he was transferred, Hill escaped from jail, but was quickly recaptured. In 1954, Hill was one of 20 inmates who escaped from Atmore Prison Farm during a prison baseball game. The men cut their way through a fence directly under Henry Sawyers, a tower guard who had fallen asleep. Sawyers admitted that he fell asleep and was immediately fired. Several other guards were suspended. Hill and 16 other inmates were caught within a day. Three other inmates managed to avoid capture in the initial search and it is not known if they were ever found. They were William Payne, who was serving a three-year sentence for grand larceny, Oscar Underwood, who was serving a 27-year sentence for grand larceny, false pretense, and assault with intent to murder, and James Garfield Spruce, who was serving a 31-year sentence for robbery, assault with intent to rob, and burglary.