The Palmyra atoll murderer who retired to the Willits area after being paroled from federal prison in 2007 died in April. Murder charges were added only after Mrs. Grahams skeletal remains were found in a metal box on Palmyra in 1981. Walker was a Big Island marijuana grower, he and Stephanie Stearns were on bail for ecstasy drug charges in 1973 and decided to flee to the South Pacific instead of serving time. They would exchange marijuana for supplies that friends brought them. It was revealed that Buck and Stephanie had been living on the island of Palmyra as well and had known the Grahams. Macs friend in Hawaii would get their mothers letters and would read the Grahams responses during his weekly radio contact. Buck was taken into custody on the fugitive warrant without incident. Muff and Mac Graham Murders He also made regular radio calls to his friend back in Hawaii to check-in and updated him on his discoveries. Stearns, herself, taunts her pursuers with photographs and spurious log notes. Its been grueling, Stephanie Stearns told reporters after hugging her tearful parents, who sat in the front row throughout the trial. It had a top-notch navigational system and plenty of supplies on board. Stearns and Walker were arrested in 1981 for murder and tried separately in federal court in San Francisco. HILO Buck Duane Walker, 69, convicted of murder in 1985 in connection with the 1974 theft of a yacht south of Hawaii, could be released from federal prison in California next month. Muff wanted to leave the area, but Mac stubbornly did not. , ISBN-13 It was a circumstantial case and if they lost they wouldnt be able to charge them again should their bodies ever be discovered. Now the island did have natural resources, such as fish, crabs, birds eggs, and coconuts, but this young couple didnt know anything about how to go about harvesting them. He plans to contact sailors up and down the West Coast in hopes of generating interest in the idea. Wesley Walker (AKA Buck) Stephanie Stearns Buck and Stephanie They buy a boat that had sunk and was raised from the harbor in Maui. On August 28, 1974, during the last radio contact anyone had from the Grahams, Mac told the radio operator there is a dinghy coming over to the boat, I guess theyve made a truce. After a brief pause the radio operator said, I heard a womans voice, and there was laughter, then Mac said, I better find out whats happening. Mac signed off at that point. This was the last time anyone heard from the Grahams. And I long ago accepted I'll never know what happened down on that island.". You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition. Muff was a wonderful gal, he says. Column: FlingGolf is catching on with San Diego in limelight, Column: Martin Luther King III helps launch Say It Now in San Diego, Column: Treasure trove of Gregory Peck memorabilia goes to auction, Column: S.D. What made this case difficult was subpoenaing of witnesses who lived and traveled by boat. Notorious atoll murderer dies after parole She told the agents she and Roy arrived right before dinner, but no one was aboard. Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app. HILO In 1974, Buck Duane Walker and his girlfriend, Stephanie Stearns, sailed in a leaky boat to Palmyra Atoll and returned to Honolulu Harbor in a beautiful yacht owned by a San Diego couple who had been vacationing on Palmyra. On January 21, 1981, a South African couple Robert and Sharron Jordan were visiting the Palmyra Islands. I would really like to see her bones interred in San Diego, said Bucy, who is endeavoring to create a fund to bring them here for a proper burial. Also on Palmyra were Wesley G. Walker (a.k.a. Stephanies defense was that she blamed Buck Walker for the murder. Investigators assumed Mac was in the other box, which for some reason never floated up. Muff and Mac Graham Murders The night before Sanders and Wolf were to leave Palmyra they had cocktails with the Grahams aboard the Sea Wind. He lived on a scant social security check, renting a 22-foot trailer amongst the redwoods he found on Craigslist, coming to town as needed for groceries and to visit the library. No one knew what happened to the owners of the yacht Sea Wind -- Malcolm and Eleanor "Muff" Graham -- until Muff Graham's bones were found on Palmyra in 1981. Instead, Stephanie and Buck were charged with interstate transportation of stolen property, which was a pretty open and shut case. Although authorities strongly suspected the couple had murdered the Grahams, no bodies were found. Buck Walker kill the wealthy Walker receives an annual salary that ranges between $46,796, as per NBC News Her broken and bleached bones were spilling out of a half-buried metal chest that apparently had washed ashore. Notorious atoll murderer dies after parole Walker and his girlfriend, Stephanie Stearns, were arrested in Honolulu in 1974 after they returned from Palmyra in a yacht stolen from Malcolm "Mac" Graham and his wife, Eleanor "Muff" Graham. Amazon.com: Customer reviews: Final Argument: An Inquiry into It recounts the murder of MAC and MUFF GRAHAM on the island of PALMYRA in August 1974, and the subsequent arrest and trials of STEPHANIE K. STEARNS and WESLEY 'BUCK' WALKER who were charged with murdering the Grahams. FINAL ARGUMENT exposes lie after compounded lie, set forth as truth in Bugliosis version of the facts surrounding the murder of the Grahams on Palmyra the August of 1974. Originally they told authorities that their own boat, theIola, got stuck on a reef at Palmyra, but Stearns later admitted they scuttled theIola in favor of stealing theSea Wind. In the morning they began searching and found an overturned boat on the shore of the lagoon. Final Argument: An Inquiry into the murders of Mac and Muff Graham on Palmyra Island by Buck Walker and Stephanie Stearns Paperback May 1, 2014 by Tom Bucy (Author) 37 ratings See all formats and editions Kindle $5.99 Read with Our Free App Paperback $24.95 2 Used from $22.50 6 New from $23.02 California schools tried to cover up their expulsion rates. They found nothing, but sharks. They arrived from Palmyra Island, 1,100 miles south of Honolulu, later claiming they abandoned their own boat and took the Grahams' after the couple mysteriously disappeared. Use of this site signifies your agreement to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy/Your California Privacy Rights , updated March 2009. VINCENT BUGLIOSI, acclaimed prosecutor of CHARLES MANSON, now working on the other side, defended STEARNS. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. In several instances, transcripts of the trial reveal testimony that differs from that recited in Bugliosis book, Bucy contends. Palmyra Atoll Islands is located south of the Hawaiian Islands. We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. Jurors announced they were deadlocked 6-6 before noon Friday, but were told by U.S. District Judge Samuel King to keep deliberating. Paroling officials want an inmate to accept responsibility, he said. Divers were sent into the ocean to search for the other container. This was the Grahams home port and several of Muffs family are interred in this area.. Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video! Palmyra Buck and Stephanies trials were held separately in San Francisco due to the publicity the Graham case had in the media. The Grahams had planned on staying around Palmyra for about 6 months. Unfortunately, because of Enokis refusal to allow Bugliosis tidal data into the trial, the jury was deprived of this information. Palmyra was privately owned by the Fullard-Leo family until 2001, when the Nature Conservancy bought it for $37 million for preservation and research purposes. Two Coast Guard officers closed in the man who then turned and dove off the pier and started to swim away. The boat is wooden and they have it covered in berglass to prevent it from leaking. The atoll, home to a rich diversity of animals and plants, before that was a little-known getaway for the yachting community. Palmyra is today owned by the Nature Conservancy and is the site of some climate change research. He had a rougher appearance and gave off an aura of being dangerous. But none of these possibilities are looked at, and in fairness they should be. You'll find a list of the currently available teaching aids below. She was acquitted Friday by a federal court jury. Stearns was pretty easy to get along with so most of the conflict came from Walker. The young couple had nearly run out of all their supplies. Since there was no activity on the boat the Coast Guard posted a lookout to see if anyone showed up. Reviewed in Canada on March 27, 2016. Final Argument: An Inquiry into the murders of Mac and Muff Graham on Palmyra Island by Buck Walker and Stephanie Stearns Paperback May 1, 2014 by Tom Bucy (Author) 37 ratings See all formats and editions Kindle $5.99 Read with Our Free App Paperback $24.95 2 Used from $22.50 6 New from $23.02 Unlike Stephanie when questioned Buck gave away nothing only answering questions with a yes or no. Stephanie, who was in jail, had inadvertently given the FBI more evidence to use against her and Buck. Publisher Where is Mac Graham? Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Texas congressman who broke with GOP is censured, Hong Kong court convicts activists behind Tiananmen vigil, Election conspiracies fuel dispute over voter fraud system, Arizona governor wont proceed with execution set by court, Desperate mountain residents trapped by snow beg for help; We are coming, sheriff says, Look up: The 32 most spectacular ceilings in Los Angeles, Hidden illegal casinos are booming in L.A., with organized crime reaping big profits, 19 cafes that make L.A. a world-class coffee destination, David Lindley, guitarist best known for work with Jackson Browne, dies at 78, Newsom, IRS give Californians until October to file tax returns, Civilians flee embattled town of Bakhmut as Ukrainian pullout looms. Discover more of the authors books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more. The motive according to prosecutors was theft and desperation since their boat was not seaworthy and they were running out of provisions. The nonfiction book recounts a double murder on Palmyra Atoll; the subsequent arrest, trial and conviction of Duane ("Buck") Walker; and the acquittal of his girlfriend, Stephanie Stearns, whom Bugliosi and Leonard Weinglass defended. Partington doubts that authorities will release Walker, because he recently published a book claiming to be innocent. Walker was paroled in 2007 at age 69 due to declining health after serving 22 years in federal prison and he retired to a trailer outside of Willits until he had a stroke. Get your hands on this collection of 48 true crime stories. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we dont use a simple average. Walker, 69, earned release from the U.S. Parole Commission in part because of advancing age and poor health. Buck The pair were desperate enough to murder the Grahams and steal their boat. 1974 murder victim still awaits burial However, the 31-year-old weatherwoman has remained tight-lipped about her husband. There may be some prejudice of the author against Bugliosi. The court found for Bugliosi, ruling that this was his protected opinion. Final Argument: An Inquiry into the murders of Mac and Muff An FBI agent from the Hawaiian field office was assigned and met with Bernard and the Coast Guard at the yacht harbor. Bernard Lenard spotted a 38-foot ketch with distinct lines in a Honolulu marina that looked like The Sea Wind, but it had been repainted. Her attorney, Vincent Bugliosi, and Bruce Henderson wrote a book about the case, "And the Sea Will Tell." The yellow container was similar to the two missing containers that FBI agents had found in the abandoned Navy warehouse years earlier. Roy changed direction and headed to the nearest dock where he jumped off and Stephanie started to row back to The Sea Wind. When told that authorities were searching the island yet again for Mac's remains, Walker is said to have remarked, "Go ahead and search. THE SEAWIND MURDERS "I don't think he's likely to be paroled," Partington said. The bones had fallen out of an aluminum box found open on the beach. [2], Walker was released on parole in September 2007 at the age of 69, after serving 22 years of a life sentence, and died of a stroke on April 26, 2010 at the age of 72. The conviction in part resulted from photographs taken by Walker from the Sea Wind showing the badly damaged Iola on the open seas sailing away from the Sea Wind. Roy also noticed a Coast Guard boat in the harbor coming towards them. When they arrived at the atoll, they had already eaten most of the provisions meant to last six months and had to be towed into the atoll with a broken motor. But he is known to most people as Buck Duane Walker, the name he was using when he and Stearns sailed into Honolulu in 1974 aboard the disguised 37-foot ketch Sea Wind. IIn October 1974, 37-year-old Buck Duane Walker and 27-year-old Stephanie Stearns sailed into Hawaii on a boat others instantly recognized as the Sea Wind. The friction between the two materials caused a crack in the hull and it had taken on water. It is really foolish to go to sea without being prepared with adequate supplies. Prosecutors argued that Buck Walker and Stephanie Stearns had been trapped on Palmyra with supplies running out and a boat that was not seaworthy. Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users. They are part of one of the largest marine protected areas in the world. He was incarcerated at United States Penitentiary, Victorville, in California. The one victim that we know of was Eleanor Graham, called Muff, but her husband, Malcolm "Mac" Graham III, age 43, vanished. The book was well-written, despite being an obvious self-aggrandizing account by its author. But the one body was enough: Walker and Stearns were arrested in Arizona for murder. Stephanie Stearns Stephanie Walker It was a difficult case. Buck Walker kill the wealthy WebFind helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Final Argument: An Inquiry into the murders of Mac and Muff Graham on Palmyra Island by Buck Walker and Stephanie Stearns at Amazon.com. With no direct evidence of any role Stearns played in the killing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliot Enoki cited disputed testimony about a feud between the couples, and pointed to numerous lies and omissions admitted by Stearns in her statements to authorities. Palmyra He had been awaiting sentencing on a drug conviction when he and Stephanie had absconded on The Iola. Stephanie ended up being acquitted of all charges. Read our revised Privacy Policy and Copyright Notice. The officers spotted him and notified the FBI. Other impressions of the young couple were that Roy didnt really fit the image of someone who sailed or even had a lot of experience sailing. Is he still in the other metal box? Stephanie Walker Husband. Bucy was amazed that the remains of slain sailor Eleanor Muff Graham remained unclaimed in FBI storage so long after the trial instead of receiving a proper burial, and he vowed to do something about it. Conservatives are terrified of the past. Meanwhile, Mac Graham was keeping up his weekly contact with his friend in Hawaii filling him in on the exploits of Stephanie and Roy. Final Argument is so bad, in so many ways, that's it's hard to know where to start a review. With no bodies as evidence of murder, Walker and Stearns were convicted only of theft. Get Essential San Diego, weekday mornings. Buck The ketch had been reregistered under the name Lokahi and had been partially repainted. The federal system generally does not parole aging offenders until they reach 70 at the earliest, he said. He has already approached the San Diego Yacht Club, which declined to get involved. They had no money and about 6 months of provisions, expecting to live off the ocean for the rest. Malcolm Graham's body was never found. Authorities would later identify them as Buck Duane Walker and Stephanie Stearns. In January 1981 a South African couple visiting the atoll, found a human skull and other bones that had apparently fallen out of a World War II vintage metal box washed up on the beach after a storm. The Grahams had brought more than a year's supply of food for their voyage, but Walker and Stearns quickly consumed their own meager supplies and resorted to harvesting the island's few coconuts, often by chopping down entire trees, leaving scars on the island habitat.