AF Instructor Convicted of Rape Commits Suicide

SAN ANTONIO -- A former Air Force staff sergeant who was convicted of rape at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland two years ago and sentenced to 20 years in prison died Sunday after apparently hanging himself in his prison cell.

Airman Basic Luis Walker, 28, was found unresponsive in his cell Friday afternoon at the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He died at a hospital Sunday evening.

The Army is investigating his death and wouldn't release more details. A source familiar with the case, however, said Walker, who was given the longest prison sentence among instructors convicted in the Lackland sex abuse scandal, was found hanging in his cell.

Walker's wife, Yeimi, declined to comment. The Air Education and Training Command said it notified all 10 of his victims Tuesday of his death as required by the 1994 federal Crime Victims' Act.

One of them, Virginia Messick, said she thinks Walker was overwhelmed with guilt.

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