Two years apart at the same location, two of Columbus’ cold cases remain a mystery

The 1970s were a time of bell bottom jeans, lava lamps, VW vans, and rock music that has lived on the cultural forefront until this day. However, in Columbus, it wasn’t always the most peaceful of times where people wanted to buy the world a Coke.

In some areas of Columbus shots would ring out and blood would run into the streets and a life would be lost, but justice would never be found.

Columbus currently has 136 unsolved homicides that are more than three years old, including nine cases from the 70s, according to list on columbusga.gov .

Columbus police provided this statement to the Ledger-Enquirer regarding unsolved homicides in the area:

“The Columbus Police Department is dedicated to bringing unsolved homicides to the forefront and pursuing justice for the victims and their families. Anyone with information on either is urged to contact our Violent Crimes Unit at 706-225-3161. Callers can remain anonymous.”

Another recent development in cold cases is the passage of t he Coleman-Baker Act which went into effect a little over a year ago. The law allows certain immediate family members of victims to apply to have the case reinvestigated that occurred on or after January 1, 1970.

With no fresh information, the Ledger-Enquirer relied on previous reporting from its predecessors, the Columbus Ledger and the Columbus Daily Enquirer.

The homicides were identified, in part, because of the proximity of the crimes: two homicides years apart but in the same location.

Just before midnight on Aug. 22, 1975, a trans individual named Robert Walker, 32, who went by the alias “Miss Dee” would be gunned down at 100 Sixth St. in Columbus, according to Columbus Ledger reporting at the time.

A witness told police he was near the area when he heard multiple shots and saw a man running from the area immediately after the shots were fired, according to Ledger reporting.

Police reported at the time that acquaintances of the victim said Walker was a heroin addict and investigating officers said illegal drugs were a possible motive for Walker’s death.

The Ledger reported Walker was a resident of a residence in the 600 block of Fourth Avenue and the Columbus Daily Enquirer reported pairs of prostitutes, including trans individuals, flagging down motorists on Fourth Avenue in 1975.

Two years earlier

Walker would be found lying only a few yards away from a phone booth where a prior homicide took place. Billy Hicks was shot dead in May 1973, according to Enquirer reporting at the time.

Hicks was the owner of an Alabama fence company and was shot to death while using a pay telephone at the corner at Sixth Street and Third Avenue on May 3, 1973, according to Enquirer reporting.

Enquirer reporting stated Hicks had been on the phone with his secretary at the time when he was shot at close range with a .22 round.

The secretary heard the shot and then the receiver of the pay booth telephone banging against the wall, according to Enquirer reporting.

Enquirer reporting said Hicks had $2,000 left intact by his killer and his body would be dragged from the phone booth and rolled under his small pickup to conceal it.

Both of these cases remain on the Columbus Police Department’s unsolved homicide list.