Emma Walker // 556

Summary

Going West: True Crime – Episode 556

Case: Emma Walker
Release Date: November 21, 2025
Hosts: Daphne Woolsoncroft & Heath Merryman

---

Episode Overview

This episode of Going West: True Crime explores the tragic case of Emma Walker, a 16-year-old high school student from Knoxville, Tennessee, whose promising life was cut short in November 2016. Hosts Daphne and Heath discuss not only the haunting details leading up to Emma's murder but also use the story as a cautionary tale about the dangers of escalating stalking, controlling behavior, and domestic violence—particularly for younger listeners and parents. Through their storytelling, they highlight the warning signs present in Emma’s relationship with ex-boyfriend Riley Gaul, ultimately encouraging vigilance and awareness in recognizing manipulative or obsessive behaviors.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Emma Walker: Background & Early Life (03:57–07:00)

• Emma Walker, born in 2000, grew up in a loving family in Fountain City, Knoxville.
• She was popular, spirited, academically high-achieving, and actively involved in extracurriculars—cheerleading, volunteer work, and aspiring to be a neonatal nurse.
• Quotes from friends and family highlighted her warmth and kindness.
  • “She liked to make people laugh…” – Jill, Emma's mom (03:57)
  • “She really took cheerleading seriously—she loved leading…” – Laura Hutton, friend (06:18)
  • "People who didn't know her… would say, 'She's the prettiest cheerleader,' but then they'd meet her and say, 'She's the nicest person.'" – Keegan, friend

The Relationship: Emma and Riley Gaul (07:00–16:10)

• Riley was two years older, a football player, and initially well-liked, described as the “boy next door.”
• The relationship quickly revealed red flags: Riley was possessive, controlling, and increasingly isolated Emma from family and friends.
  • “He got more possessive and more clingy, wouldn’t let her do certain things…” – Lauren, friend (09:45)
• Daphne and Heath discuss how manipulative partners may initially seem charming, drawing parallels to the film “Fear” (10:34–11:27).
• Emma’s parents began noticing changes: their daughter grew more withdrawn, and Riley’s threats on social media crossed severe lines (13:42).
• A particularly alarming threat from Riley on Snapchat:
  “I hate you. I hate everything about you. Then you're dead to me. I'll check the obituary. F**k you.” (13:42)

Escalation: Stalking & Manipulation (14:56–18:15)

• Repeated efforts by Emma’s family to end contact (banning Riley, monitoring devices), but Riley found workarounds (e.g., an iPod Touch for secret texting).
• Riley showed up at Emma’s school functions and church, tried to turn her against her family, and employed classic manipulative tactics.
  • “He even tried to breed resentment between Emma and her family, telling her they’d never be there for her like he would.” (15:29)
• Friends observed Riley’s behaviors growing more erratic, but no one could stop him (16:45).
• Despite the breakup in fall 2016, Riley refused to let go, continuing aggressive efforts to maintain contact.

The Weekend of the Crime (18:15–24:00)

• Friday, Nov 18: Emma received ominous anonymous texts at a party:
  • “Go to your car with your keys. Go alone. I’ve got someone you love. If you don’t comply, I will hurt them.” (18:15)
  • Friends escorted her outside—nothing was found.
  • Another text followed: “What do you not understand about coming outside alone?” (18:38)
• Riley was soon found lying face down in a ditch, claiming abduction and amnesia—an obvious ploy according to hosts.
  • “This is a desperate ploy of manipulation.” – Host Sam (20:14)
• Saturday, Nov 19: Emma spotted a man in black stalking her house; she called Riley for help, who coincidentally was already nearby—consistent with his staged hero tactics (21:15).
  • Riley recalled:
    “She was asking if it was me at first, and I told her no, what’s going on?... I said… I’ll come check it out.” – Riley (21:56)
• No police reports were filed despite these incidents.

Emma’s Murder (24:02–29:34)

• In the early hours of Monday, Nov 21, Emma’s father heard a loud bang; later that morning, Emma’s body was found by her mother—she had been shot as she slept.
• Forensic evidence: bullets were fired through the wall of her room from outside, with the second shot striking her head directly where she slept. The calculated shooting suggested intimate knowledge of the bedroom layout.
  • “To do the second shot, they would have needed to climb over the fence... it was obviously so plotted out…” – Daphne (31:13)

---

Investigation & Evidence (33:40–56:04)

Early Suspicions & Riley’s Reaction (33:40–38:09)

• Riley quickly became the primary suspect due to his history with Emma.
• His public grief contrasted sharply with detachment during police questioning.
  • Vigilant social media posts: “You are beautiful… You’re my best friend… I miss you more than anything… Rest easy now, sweetheart.” – Riley on Twitter (36:00–37:26)
  • But in police interviews, he only referred to Emma as “the girl.”
    • “He wouldn’t say her name and instead referred to her only as ‘the girl.’” – Daphne (39:06)
• Admitted he was out in his car the night of the murder, returning to his dorm at 4:30am—contradicted by cell phone records.
• Det. James Hurst noted:
  “When I first met him… I felt like there was a dark side. He didn’t have a whole lot of passion or concern.” (40:18)

Break in the Case & Riley’s Downfall (47:49–54:02)

• Police discovered Riley’s grandfather’s 9mm gun had gone missing after Riley had access to his grandfather’s car.
• Ballistics matched the murder weapon to the missing gun.
• Riley tried to recruit friends Noah Walton and Alex McCarty to dispose of the gun; they went to the police.
• Police staged a sting, wiring the friends with recorders as Riley explained:
  • “I want to be so upset, and I can’t because I’m more worried about getting arrested and put away for a murder I didn’t commit.” – Riley (51:06)
  • “It just needs to be gone for whatever reason, just… needs to be gone.” – Riley (52:15)
• Friends stalled until police intervened, arresting Riley with the gun and black clothes used during the murder in his possession.

Legal Outcomes (56:15–61:49)

• Riley was arrested and held on $750,000 bond, later released on $1 million bail and house arrest.
• Despite social media denials by his mother (“Riley did not do this. He would not hurt her because he loved Emma dearly. He is not a monster.”), the defense ultimately admitted Riley was guilty but claimed he never intended to kill Emma—just to scare her “so she’d need him” (57:22–58:38).
• Prosecution pointed to overwhelming premeditation: Riley fired two carefully aimed shots, after prior escalating behavior and staged threats.
• On May 8, 2018, at age 19, Riley Gaul was sentenced to life in prison without parole for 51 years.

---

Aftermath & Legacy (61:49–62:51)

• Emma Walker is honored by her community: a scholarship at her high school, a NICU room, and a dog park in her name (61:49).
• Her mother, Jill, channels her grief into advocacy, supporting domestic violence causes and uplifting Emma’s memory.
  • “It makes me feel good to know she was out there doing the right thing and not just following along with what other people did. That says a lot.” – Jill Walker (62:41)
• Daphne and Heath encourage listeners to heed the warning signs in controlling relationships and urge proactive reporting and intervention.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Manipulation and Control:
  "[Riley] got more possessive and more clingy… and wouldn’t let her do certain things. Basically, he started trying to control what she was wearing… who she spent her time with." – Lauren (09:45)
• Movie Parallel:
  “It really has those… feelings where it’s just like this person is trying to control every aspect of their partner.” – Host Sam, on ‘Fear’ (10:44)
• On Parental Vigilance:
  “Her poor parents… they really were trying… they couldn’t have imagined their daughter’s life was in danger.” – Daphne (14:56)
• Riley’s Ambiguous Defense:
  “I’d hurt myself before I’d hurt her.” – Riley during police interview (41:28)
• Friendship & Doing the Right Thing:
  “It was almost the whole time we were like saying goodbye to one of our best friends.” – Alex, on helping the police sting (52:29)
• Host Reflection:
  “He needs to learn how to take ‘no’ for an answer… move on with your life… it’s just sick.” – Daphne (59:27)
• Emma’s Lasting Legacy:
  “There’s a scholarship in her honor at her high school, a room in the local NICU, and even a dog park in her name…” – Daphne (61:49)
• Mother’s Pride:
  “It makes me feel good to know that she was out there doing the right thing and not just following along with what other people did. That says a lot.” – Jill Walker (62:41)

---

Key Timestamps

• Emma’s Background: 03:57–07:00
• Early Relationships & Red Flags: 07:00–16:10
• Abuse, Manipulation & Stalking: 14:56–18:15
• The Crime Weekend: 18:15–24:00
• Emma’s Murder: 24:02–29:34
• Investigation & Riley's Behavior: 33:40–41:22
• Sting Operation & Evidence: 47:49–54:02
• Trial & Sentence: 56:15–61:49
• Legacy & Call to Action: 61:49–62:51

---

Tone & Style

Daphne and Heath maintain a compassionate, candid, and occasionally irreverent tone—using pop culture references, voicing deep concern for young people, and empathizing with parents and victims. The narrative is engaging and direct, and takes care not to blame the victim, focusing instead on the importance of recognizing warning signs and community vigilance.

---

Final Takeaways

• Warning Signs: The episode stresses the importance of recognizing obsessive, controlling, and isolating behaviors in relationships.
• Community Action: Friends do the right thing by assisting police, illustrating the importance of action over loyalty when lives are at stake.
• Legacy: Emma’s story is memorialized through activism and community engagement, serving as both a warning and an inspiration.

---

For more information or to support Emma Walker’s legacy and anti-domestic violence causes, visit local resources or the episode’s featured social media posts.

Transcript

[Google Pixel Ad Narrator]

You know what?

[Daphne]

A girl's best friend is not diamonds. Her lawyers.

[Narrator/Commercial Voice]

From executive producer Ryan Murphy comes a fiery new legal drama.

[Daphne]

It's our own boutique, women representing women.

[Narrator/Commercial Voice]

You can't afford to miss.

[Daphne]

Make it ring. Showtime, ladies. Stand up straight and breeze into that room like a storm no one saw coming.

[Narrator/Commercial Voice]

Hulu Original Series All's Fair now streaming on Hulu and Hulu on Disney for bundle subscribers. Terms apply.

[Ross Shopper Narrator]

Oh, hey.

[Host Sam]

Welcome to gift wrapping. Whoa.

[Narrator/Commercial Voice]

Soy Saldana.

[T Mobile Customer]

Hey, can you wrap these, please?

[Host Sam]

Wow.

[Narrator/Commercial Voice]

IPhone 17s.

[T Mobile Customer]

You splurged at T Mobile. You can get four iPhone 17s on them. The new center stage front camera is amazing for group selfies. It's the perfect gift for everyone.

[Host Sam]

I'm the worst.

[Narrator/Commercial Voice]

I only got my mom a robe.

[T Mobile Customer]

Well, it's better than socks.

[Narrator/Commercial Voice]

So I have to trade in my old phone, right?

[T Mobile Customer]

No @t mobile. There's no trade ins needed when you switch. Keep your old phone or give it as a gift.

[Narrator/Commercial Voice]

Incredible.

[T Mobile Customer]

In fact, wrap up my old phone too, for my aunt Rosa.

[Daphne]

Forget that.

[T Mobile Customer]

Aunt Liz will be jealous.

[Narrator/Commercial Voice]

Sounds like my family drama.

[Host Sam]

Got it.

[T Mobile Customer]

I'll give it to my abuela. I'll take reindeer paper with. Hey, where are you going?

[Daphne]

To T Mobile.

[Narrator/Commercial Voice]

The holidays are better. AT T Mobile get four iPhone 17s on us. No trade in needed when you switch plus four lines for just 25 bucks a line. And now T Mobile is available in US cellular stores with 24 monthly bill credits and four eligible board ends on essentials for well qualified customers bought our pay + taxes, fees and $35 device connection chart credits ended balance due. If you pay off earlier. Cancel contact US Finance Agreement 256 gigabytes. 830 required.

[Ross Shopper Narrator]

Visit T mobile.com every holiday shopper's got a list. But Ross shoppers, you've got a mission.

[Daphne]

Like a gift run that turns into.

[Ross Shopper Narrator]

A disco, snow globe, throw pillows and PJs for the whole family, dog included. At Ross, holiday magic isn't about spending more. It's about giving more for less. Ross, work your magic.

[Host Sam]

What is going on? True crime fans, I'm your host.

[Daphne]

And I'm your host, Daphne.

[Host Sam]

And you're listening to Going West.

[Daphne]

Hello everybody. Thank you so much for tuning in today. The case that we have is definitely a cautionary stalking tale and I think a really important one. Specifically for any maybe younger school aged people listening. Or any age, honestly, just to know the terrifying signs of control and obsession that are associated with stalking and even domestic violence. Actually, it's also an important one for parents to stay informed as well. So thank you guys for tuning into this one. And I know that last episode we said that we would have merch ready probably by today, but.

[Host Sam]

Yes, but the scenario looks like we're not sure exactly when the merch line is gonna come out. Our team is working very, very hard to get it out there for you guys. We're trying to get it out before the holidays approach us.

[Daphne]

Yeah, that's our goal. That's our goal.

[Host Sam]

That's definitely the goal. We really appreciate everybody's patience with this and we will have an update for you gu soon.

[Daphne]

Yes. So without further ado.

[Host Sam]

Alright guys, this is episode 556 of Going West. So let's get into it.

[Daphne]

In November of 2006, a 16 year old girl was found dead in her bed in a quiet neighborhood of Knoxville, Tennessee, after her parents thought she had simply overslept. Her community reeled from the news as speculation circulated around the case of her sudden and suspicious death. But soon the investigation would reveal eerie details about her final few days, which included telling several friends that there was a man dressed in black watching her home. This is the murder of Emma Walker. Emma Jane Walker was born on March 20, 2000 to parents Jill and Mark, and they were later joined by her little brother Evan. Emma and Evan grew up in Fountain City, Tennessee, which is a neighborhood in North Knoxville. And Emma was absolutely loved by her family, her friends, all of her peers. She was very much remembered as a spirited girl with a huge heart. Her mom, Jill proudly described her as, quote, very spunky. She liked to make people laugh. In 2014, Emma entered Knoxville Central High School as a freshman. And she, she quickly found her stride there like she was an honors student and an active participant in her school's extracurricular activities, including the Health Occupation Students of America, which was preparing her for her dream job as a neonatal nurse, which is a career that she was drawn to because of her desire to help people. Like, even at the age of 15, she knew that that's what she wanted to do. She also loved animals, especially dogs, and volunteered at an animal shelter in her city quite often. And on top of all of this, Emma was a talented dancer and cheerleader and was actually the only freshman who made the cheerleading team that year. A friend of hers on the squad named Laura Hutton remembered, quote, emma really took cheerleading seriously. She really loved doing it. It was one of her passions. She loved leading and she loved football games. She loved just being part of crowd appeal. According to her friend Keegan, quote, people who didn't know her were like, oh, she's the super pretty cheerleader. Like, oh, no. But then they would meet her and say, she's the nicest person. Now, William Riley Gaul, who went by Riley, was a junior when Emma was a freshman, and he played wide receiver for the Central High School Bobcats. So these two had plenty of chances to get to know each other at the games, obviously also in school, but their shared sense of humor is what really drew them together. Both of them were known for their goofiness, and Riley was known among his fellow juniors for being the class clown. Emma's friend Zach Green described, quote, he was a little nerdy on the side, a little to himself. From the outside looking in, you'd think he was just a normal guy. Well, though the chemistry between them was instantaneous. Riley was actually already seeing another girl when they met. But according to Riley, he broke it off in order to pursue his feelings for Emma. But by his ex girlfriend's recollection, the timeline was a little bit murkier than that. In fact, he had promised her that he would take her, you know, the apparent ex to prom that spring instead of Emma, even though Riley and Emma had started dating by that point. So, of course, Emma was very hurt by this when she found out. But they continued to date with him, assuring her that they would go to prom together next year. So he literally took a different girl to prom?

[Host Sam]

Well, yeah, and maybe it was just one of those things where he didn't want to break a commitment that he had already kind of, you know, put into play.

[Daphne]

I guess you could look at that in a positive way and, you know, in one light.

[Host Sam]

Yeah. You sure? You could say, oh, well, he's just keeping his promise here.

[Daphne]

Yeah. But it seems that from the beginning of their relationship, at the very least, he was. He was acting one way of like, oh, he's this nice guy, but he was doing some other stuff behind the scenes. There was some questionable choices and questionable personality elements from the jump, but obviously it's going to get a lot worse. So he kept his promise. And the following year, in April of 2016, toward the end of his senior year and Emma's sophomore year when she was 16, they went to prom. So like I just said, in the beginning, her friends and family adored him, and they felt like he and Emma were a good match. So again, he is coming off in a lot of ways as a good guy.

[Host Sam]

Yeah. And typically, that's what you see in relationships. It usually starts out pretty good. But her parents did initially have Some reservations about Emma dating Riley because he was two years older. You know, at the point that today's story takes place, he was an adult and he was of college age. But he made a great first impression with Jill Walker, describing him as the boy next door, explaining, he came in very polite, very nice in the beginning. He was very likable. So they're kinda letting this age thing slide for now because they really thought that he was a good guy. But as things got more serious between the two, his insecurities began to really reveal themselves. Emma's friend Lauren recalls, he got more possessive and more clingy toward her and wouldn't let her do certain things. Basically, he started trying to control what she was wearing, you know, not wanting her stepping out of the house in anything too revealing. And also tried to micromanage who she spent her time with, preferring that she spend as little time as possible with her friends and just in order to prioritize him.

[Daphne]

And this is that type of behavior that I hinted to in the intro that is so important to look out for that we see really in all cases like this one, because this is not normal or acceptable behavior for any partner to micromanage and judge and, and tell people what they can and can't do, who they can and can't see, especially when it's your loving friends and family.

[Host Sam]

Yeah. And. And as you guys probably know, Daphne and I always kind of throw out the movie references. Do you know what movie I'm gonna reference here?

[Daphne]

God, I don't.

[Host Sam]

You don't?

[Daphne]

Fear.

[Host Sam]

Yes, 100%. I knew you were going to get it. Yeah. It really has those kind of. Those kind of feelings where it's just like this person is trying to control every aspect of their partner. And it's true. And it's going to get worse.

[Daphne]

Well, actually, fear is a great 1996. Reese Witherspoon. Mark, I almost. I always want to say Mark Ruffalo, Mark Wahlberg.

[Host Sam]

Mark.

[Daphne]

Yeah. She's just a teenager. Reese Witherspoon in the movie, as well as Emma Walker in this true story. And so she doesn't know that this is wrong. She doesn't know that these are poor behaviors and that. That nobody that she's dating should be doing this to her.

[Host Sam]

Of course. And Mark Wahlberg was also the older guy in that. In that movie as well, just like Riley is.

[Daphne]

Yeah, maybe that's part of it. You know, that kind of manipulation of a younger girl who doesn't have that knowledge and experience that you might have even a couple years later. But also, I feel like even for me, I didn't learn about a lot of that stuff until we started diving into cases like this one where I could see that behavior. And maybe it's because I really didn't encounter it very often. But looking at cases like this and having all of these horrific prime examples, which is part of why we, I hate to say enjoy, but love or enjoy covering cases like this on the show, because I really think they're such cautionary tales and they can teach a lot of us what to look out for in certain situations.

[Host Sam]

Definitely. And even going back to just high school relationships in general, people really think that high school is everything. At the end of the day, high school is just a period of time that you're in school for four years.

[Daphne]

It's so true. It's like a different world, though. It does feel that way.

[Host Sam]

But when you're a teenager, you think it's so important. Like this relationship is, is so important to me. And yes, people do get married, high school sweethearts and stuff like that. But I will say that it's not that deep. But as you're gonna see, that's not how Riley feels at all. And I mean, Riley even tried to forbid Emma from seeing and spending time with her own friends. And when she did so anyway, he would text her incessantly until he could get an answer from her. So their relationship, as you guys can imagine, was pretty touch and go. But in spite of his flaws, Emma was still smitten by him and just couldn't let him go quite yet. And like you're saying, Daphne, a lot of people don't recognize that these signs are very dangerous. And some can even mistake it for that person just really like caring about them or, you know, possibly loving them. And I think that's very easy to see in this particular case is that, you know, it's, it's almost like this type of love bombing, but it's, it's stepping over the boundaries and love bombing isn't good.

[Daphne]

But it's almost, maybe in her eyes, he's a little bit older. He's the cute football player. We're so great together. He knows my family. He just really cares about me. And it's like, no, he's trying to manipulate and control you and this is not good at all.

[Host Sam]

Well, her parents definitely were starting to see that things were kind of changing in their daughter. You know, she was going from this very joyful, carefree 16 year old to, to this shrunken down, more despondent Person to suit Riley's needs. But then Riley started to exhibit an even more erratic and dangerous side when, during a particularly nasty fight, he threatened her on Snapchat, writing, I hate you. I hate everything about you. And then you're dead to me. I'll check the obituary. Fuck you. So, obviously, seeing these messages, Emma's parents stepped in to protect her and put a stop to it immediately, as they should do, banning him from their home and taking her phone away so that they could no longer communicate. But Riley found a workaround, patching things up with Emma and then giving her an ipod touch so that she could still text him. Her parents continued to monitor her text messages and social media activity just in hopes of intercepting his abusive and derogatory messages. And they also placed a tracker on her car so that they could keep a very close eye on her location.

[Daphne]

Her poor parents. I mean, they. They really were trying. And of course, hindsight's 20 20, I'm sure they couldn't have imagined their daughter's life was in danger. But like you're saying, they were checking her text, and little did they know, she's talking to him in a different way that they don't have access to. They don't have access to the messages on the ipod touch. They don't even know that she has it. So it's just really a sad situation.

[Host Sam]

Yeah, I mean, they're probably just assuming that he's this obsessive teenager, but they probably don't think that it's going to lead to anything super serious or dangerous.

[Daphne]

Well, sadly, none of the things that they did really deterred Riley at all, because he began popping up at public locations knowing that her family couldn't do anything to stop it. And in the fall of 2016, this included games at his former high school. This obviously would be after he graduated that past spring, as well as service at the family's church. So now he's going to her school. He's going to see the Walker family at church to try to intercept Emma there, because he's like, he's gonna do whatever he needs to do to find her and to be in touch with her, even if she doesn't have a phone. You know, at least when she didn't have that ipod touch. He even tried to breed resentment between Emma and her family, telling her that her parents and brother would never be there for her in the way that he was. So he is completely manipulating her.

[Host Sam]

Yeah, and this is such a classic tactic of people like that.

[Daphne]

Same with it. Like, in fear yeah.

[Host Sam]

Where they. They try to pit you against your family. They try to say, oh, they're not good for you. And it's like, okay. The people that have known Emma for her entire life, they're the people that are in the wrong. And you're not in the wrong. You love her more than her family. Like, shut up.

[Daphne]

It's all horrible lies. So Riley's friends were also, by the way, very unnerved by his behavior and felt like they were watching him spiral out of control. But no one could talk sense into him when it came to Emma. But still, they're stuck in this on again, off again cycle, and this is going on for nearly two years. And like I just said, in the spring of 2016, Riley graduated from high school, but then he enrolled in Maryville College, which is only 30 minutes south of Knoxville. So her parents did hope that this would put some distance between the two of them, even though he was still popping up at football games in the fall of 2016. Because obviously, he's not far away at all. He's 30 minutes away, and this man has a car. So when the jealousy finally became too stifling, Emma left him for good. She officially broke it off with Riley in the fall of 2016 as she headed into her junior year. And he is going into college. But he wasn't gonna let her go that easily. On the Evening of Friday, November 18, 2016, Emma cheered at a Bobcats football game, which many of her friends and peers attended. They gathered at a friend's house afterward for a party. And around 11:30pm Emma received an eerie text message that read, quote, go to your car with your keys.

[Host Sam]

Go alone.

[Daphne]

I've got someone you love. If you don't comply, I will hurt them. So Emma and a few of her friends headed outside to scope out the situation and see if there was actually anybody out there or if this was some weird prank.

[Host Sam]

And she did the right thing here by not going out there by herself. You know, she's like, this is creepy. I'm gonna take my friends.

[Daphne]

Yeah. But they go out there as a group, and they don't see anything out of the ordinary. And when they got back inside within minutes, Emma received a second text message that read, quote, what do you not understand about coming outside alone? So obviously, this is proving that there is somebody outside. Whether it's a prank or not, she still doesn't know. But this is proving that somebody is out there watching her and texting her.

[Host Sam]

Right?

[Daphne]

And by the way, these are coming from an anonymous number. So she does not know who this is, but she and her friends at this point are starting to wonder if the texts are coming from Riley. When she returned outside, lo and behold, she found Riley there, disoriented and lying face down in a ditch. And get this. He told Emma that he had been abducted, struck in the head, and then left outside the home, but that he had no memory of the incident because of the blow to his head. Right.

[Host Sam]

So this person just randomly abducted you, smacked you in the head, and then drove you to a party where high schoolers are hanging out, that they have no idea who's. Like, why. Why would the abductor even know where this party was?

[Daphne]

And that would. That would insinuate that there is somebody out there who is. Who's actually texting Emma. And the person that she loves that is gonna get hurt is Riley. Okay, so who's this other person? Oh, they went to a college to go pick Riley. Like, it doesn't make any sense. And honestly, Emma is also seeing right through this.

[Host Sam]

Yeah, this is a desperate ploy of manipulation.

[Daphne]

Right. So she was fed up with his attention seeking, so she left him outside and slept over at her friend's house, which is the house that the party was at.

[Host Sam]

She's like, this is the dumbest fucking story I've ever heard. I'm going back inside.

[Daphne]

But in the morning, she drove herself home. And as she arrived, she saw something else that was very disturbing. A man dressed in all black stalking the perimeter of her house. When she went inside her home, the man approached the door and pounded on it, even shaking the doorknob in its socket. Obviously, this is Saturday morning, and Emma was home alone, so this scared her so much. Now she's thinking about the night before and thinking, wait, is there somebody out to get me? Why? But I don't know. But no, my family's not here. So I'm going to text Riley to come help me, because he knows about this. He was there last night.

[Host Sam]

So it seems like this kind of ploy of his is working.

[Daphne]

Absolutely. So she texted him and said, I hate you, but I need you right now. She then FaceTimed him and asked him to come over, just seemingly wanting the security and protection she thought he could offer her, because maybe he is a victim in all this. That's what she's thinking.

[Host Sam]

But guess what the crazy part is.

[Daphne]

Conveniently, Riley happened to already be in his car nearby, so he raced over there. And by the way, by the time that he is racing over there and he's nearby, the Person in black had fled. So you know they're never in the same room at the same time.

[Host Sam]

Yeah, I mean, obviously very convenient for Riley. Well, Riley later recalled she texted me and she was, she was kind of acting frantic over the phone and she said that someone was trying to get into her house. Somebody was dressed in all black, they had a face mask on. She said that she saw him. She said she thought that they were just taking a walk in the neighborhood. And then when she passed them and pulled into her driveway, they put on a pair of glasses and she said they kind of like sped up. So she went into the garage and closed it. She said he came up to the door and was ringing the doorbell, knocking on the door, trying to get in. That's when I was already halfway there because she was freaking out on the phone. He then added, she was asking if it was me at first, and I told her no, what's going on? And that's when she FaceTime called me. She was crying and freaking out. So I said, okay, give me a minute, I'll come check it out. So now he's this knight in shining armor.

[Daphne]

Exactly.

[Host Sam]

Well, when Emma's mom, Jill arrived home that afternoon, she found Emma in the driveway talking to Riley. She told her mom what had happened and was still pretty shaken up and crying. Though they declined to report the incident to the police. And that same thing goes for all of the behavior from Riley. There were no prior police reports made for anything. Now, the following day, Sunday, November 20, 2016, it came and went without any incident. Emma and her dad went out for ice cream that night and then Emma went to bed as usual because the next day was Monday and she had school. And by the way, I do want to kind of mention here that most high schools in the US take the whole week off for Thanksgiving break, whereas others return to school Monday, Tuesday, and sometimes even Wednesday. And it looks like Central High School was open and in session until the day before Thanksgiving. So you know she's got school. And it appears that Riley actually did too.

[Daphne]

Yes. Cause Thanksgiving was that Thursday, November 24th.

[Host Sam]

But even so, in the early morning hours of Monday, November 21, 2016, between 3 and 3:30am, Emma's dad Mark heard a bang that he thought sounded like a door slamming shut. Now, he waited a moment and the sound rang out yet again. So obviously very rattled by this, he got up to check his kids rooms, but both appeared to be sleeping soundly. Now, later that morning, Jill went to put something in Emma's room and she was surprised to find that her normally punctual and regimented daughter wasn't up for school yet. After a few attempts to get her out of bed, Jill realized that something was very wrong here. So she checked Emma's pulse and with horror Jill found that she didn't have one and she was cold to the touch. Jill panicked and frantically called 911, but Mark had already left for work, so Jill called in her son Evan, Emma's younger brother, for help, but there was just nothing that they could do at that point. Sadly, 16 year old Emma had already been dead for hours.

[Daphne]

When you finally take a break from diving into some of these intense cases, there's nothing better than relaxing with a glass of wine that you can count on. That's why we want to share Riva de la Rosa, an Italian white wine brand that's elegant, refreshing and easy to enjoy.

[Host Sam]

Each glass of Riva Della Rosa feels like being transported to Italy. Bright, refreshing and completely effortless.

[Daphne]

They have two standout wines that we think you guys will love. Vermentino, which is crisp, vibrant and smooth and Gavi, which is bright, kind of flirty and just the right touch of elegance.

[Host Sam]

And the best part is that every bottle has a screw cap so it's easy to open anywhere, anytime, no corkscrew required.

[Daphne]

Enjoy quality wine that pairs perfectly with a quiet dinner this fall or winter time with friends or simply winding down after a long day. Which is exactly what Heath and I did this weekend with a bottle of Vermentino. We made this beautiful fall fettuccine. It paired so well. It was so delicious. We had the whole bottle over dinner and we had just great conversation. You guys would love this wine.

[Host Sam]

Bring a little taste of Italy to your next wine night. Check out rivadellarosawine.com to find a bottle near you.

[Daphne]

Disclaimer must be 21 plus. Please drink responsibly. Your home should show off who you are and Ashley has styles that balance timeless appeal and modern trends to bring your personal look home. Me and Heath's house is so us. It's filled with books and horror movie posters and chic furniture. It's so cozy. You will find us curled up on our sectional couch any night of the week. I mean it's an extension of our.

[Host Sam]

Style and Ashley offers well crafted affordable pieces for any style. Built to stand up to real life with great looks that are made to last.

[Daphne]

More than just eye catching design, get style with substance like stain resistant performance fabric options which is perfect if you're like us and you have a dog or a child. I mean, they are incredibly durable and stain resistant with machine washable cushion covers. What more could you ask for?

[Host Sam]

Ashley.com is easy to shop with so many stylish options to choose from and the ordering process is smooth from start to finish. Plus, Ashley provides fast, reliable white glove delivery right to your door.

[Daphne]

Visit your local Ashley store or head to Ashley.com to find your style.

[Host Sam]

You might think that you have a solid handle on your budget. Maybe your spreadsheet says that you should have an extra thousand dollars left over each month, but if your bank account isn't reflecting that, then something's off. Rocket Money helps you track every dollar, uncover hidden spending, and take control of your finances.

[Daphne]

Rocket Money is a personal finance app that helps find and cancel your unwanted subscriptions, monitors your spending, and helps lower your bills so you can grow your savings. Something I love about Rocket Money is you can even get alerts if your bills increase in price or if there's unusual activity in your accounts. If you're close to going over your budget and even when you're doing a good job.

[Host Sam]

Rocket Money has saved users over $2.5 billion, including over $880 million in canceled subscriptions alone.

[Daphne]

Their 10 million members save up to $740 a year when they use all of the app's premium features. It's pretty amazing. So cancel your unwanted subscriptions and reach your financial goals faster with Rocket Money. Go to RocketMoney.com GoingWest today.

[Host Sam]

That's RocketMoney.com GoingWest RocketMoney.com Going West.

[Daphne]

Total chaos ensued as word broke around their community and Emma's classmates headed into school for the day, none the wiser at first. But then erroneous rumors about suicide or an overdose became prevalent because there was some news that came out weirdly that there was like a substance on Emma's pillow when she was found, and people kind of ran with that and decided that it was vomit after she had an overdose like this came from nowhere. In reality, what was on her pillow was blood from a bullet wound. So in minutes the house turned into a crime scene and was cased by detectives in hopes of determining what had happened there that morning. Now, in the siding of the home, a bullet had been shot clean through from the outside, gone through the wall, and struck Emma in the head because it had been aligned at the exact place where her head was resting on her pillow. She was shot on the left side of her head behind her ear, which killed her instantly as she slept. So detectives walk the perimeter of the House. This is a one story house, by the way. And they found a second bullet hole shot through the siding of the house and into Emma's room. So that means that after the first shot, the assailant repositioned themselves and shot from the wall adjacent to her bed. I know this is kind of hard to picture if you can't actually see the house. Basically, we're gonna post photos on our socials, so go check that out. But you know those like AC units that are outside of houses with the fan?

[Host Sam]

Yep.

[Daphne]

That was right outside her bedroom. And then there was the fence to the backyard, also right next to her bedroom. But you could access the outer wall of her room just by walking up to the house. Like you didn't have to jump over a fence or like I said, go to a second story. Like it was right there. So somebody easily, if they knew where her room was, could have gone and stood outside of it and put a gun to the wall and shot inside. Through the wall, obviously. So that is what this person did. But to do the second shot, to take that second shot, that is when they would have needed to climb over the fence to get into the backyard and, and fire through the wall again, this time hitting her. Actually, the second shot was almost exactly 90 degrees from the first. And it was obviously so plotted out that it seemed guaranteed to have been an intentional hit on Emma. And it's begging the question, how had this person known exactly where to shoot in order to kill her? That would mean the person knew what Emma's room looked like, which also meant that they knew Emma, because by the way, the first shot that was taken would have been straight behind her head. So they could have done that. But then they went off to the side and it hit her on the side of the head. But the first shot would have been taken directly at her head, but it didn't hit her.

[Host Sam]

Right. So now we know that this assailant, this perpetrator, I should say, fired that shot. They missed and then they re corrected. And that is when they took Emma's life.

[Daphne]

Well, and this is what's so sad is that her dad, of course, reported to the police that he heard those loud banging sounds around 3:00am, right. And that he thought that somebody was banging on the door. But really that was the sound of two shots being fired into his daughter's bedroom. So then he goes into his daughter's room to check on her and it looks like she's sleeping. And little did he know she had just been murdered.

[Host Sam]

I mean, that is a Terrifying realization to have. Just knowing that, you know, you thought that your daughter was sleeping soundly and that she was perfectly fine and little did you know, she was already deceased.

[Daphne]

Yeah. Because this is truly so unheard of, you know, and there was no evidence that he could see. He couldn't see the blood from the door.

[Host Sam]

Right.

[Daphne]

So it's just, it's unreal. So police, of course, they're beginning this investigation knowing now that she had been murdered and the shot had been fired, or shots, I should say, from outside the house. And of course, one name kept coming into the mind of everybody who knew and loved Emma. 18 year old Riley Gaul. But detectives also wondered if maybe the man in black that was stalking Emma two days prior could have been responsible. Not yet knowing if they were the same person. Because also I do want to say, obviously the detectives are hearing all of these details about Riley and his relationship with Emma and how he was controlling and he was possessive and all these things. But from the outside, it's so wild to know that just by looking at them, because there are so many photos of them that are so adorable. She's in her cheerleading outfit and he's in his football uniform and. Uniform, yeah, yeah. And they're smiling on the field and they just look like this picture perfect high school couple. And now he's at college and he was a football player. Like, this isn't the type of guy you would imagine would do something like this. If there is a type.

[Host Sam]

Yeah. And it's so funny because we talk about cases like this and sometimes it's like we're like, you know, there's not this big scar typically across somebody's fucking face. And you're like, oh, that's a bad dude right there. It's not like the movies, you know, it's like anybody can be capable of doing something like this, you know, and even though Riley looked like this boy next door, which is what Emma's mom described him as, you know, that's clearly not who he was.

[Daphne]

Well, a neighbor of the walkers called in claiming that she had security camera footage of the man walking past her home. So police sought a copy and they noted that the man on the footage seemed to be walking with determination towards something. He's not wandering the neighborhood or anything. So they came to the belief that Emma was his intended target. Security camera footage from that afternoon was shown to one of Emma's friends and she told police that based on his stride and mannerisms, she was convinced that the man in the footage was Riley.

[Host Sam]

So of course Riley was promptly brought in for questioning, and by his account, he had been sleeping at his dorm in Maryville, Tennessee, when he received multiple calls and texts with the news that Emma was dead. He claimed that he spent all morning crying and took to social media to air out his grief. He shared a very lengthy statement on Twitter alongside a picture of the two of them saying, you are beautiful. You are amazing. You're funny, compassionate, caring. You're my best friend. There's not a human on earth that can make the impact that you've had on my life. I miss you more than anything. You'll weigh heavy on my mind for the rest of my life because no one can fill the void that's in my heart now. It feels like just a couple weeks ago we were messing with each other at the game and smiling and enjoying the comfort and warmth of each other. Just knowing that you have someone that's so in love with you gives you so much hope for your life ahead, and it can be taken away just like that. He captioned the post with that's my beautiful Emma. Rest Easy now, sweetheart. 1 Corinthians 13:8. Be sure to remind God about our verse. I love you forever and always. And it's just so annoying how holier than thou. He's coming off like he was this great, amazing boyfriend when that's really not how he was. He was this controlling asshole.

[Daphne]

Yeah. He's putting on this very, very fake frontier. And especially that's my beautiful Emma. Rest easy now, sweetheart. You guys broke up, so you're not together. And it would make sense if somebody that you dated and you loved and you spent time with, you have nice things to say about them. Of course. But he is. He's painting a very particular picture.

[Host Sam]

Well, this was just one of several posts that he put up in the aftermath of her murder. And he even changed his profile picture to a picture of Emma and added the bio. Living every day through Emma Walker. I love you, beautiful, and I know you're in a better place now.

[Daphne]

The gall of Riley Gaul.

[Host Sam]

Yes, the Gaul. So the day after her murder, a lavish vigil took place on the same field where she used to cheer. Hundreds of people were in attendance. But Riley wrote on Twitter, I love you, Emma. I can't be around any of that yet. It's too soon. What a loser. I know. You know I'm dying to be there, but understand I can't. I love you.

[Daphne]

So many eye rolls. But his tune became much more casual when he spoke with police. Remember everything Heath just said. Remember all those captions and the posts. And I love you, sweetheart. And you're my world.

[Host Sam]

And I'm living through Emma Walker.

[Daphne]

Yeah, you're my best friend. You know, you'll weigh heavy on my mind for the rest of my life. Just all of those things he said. But. But when he was questioned about Emma's murder, he wouldn't say her name and instead referred to her only as the girl.

[Host Sam]

That is insane work.

[Daphne]

Like when detectives asked for clarification about who he was referencing because he just kept saying the girl. Riley literally said, the one that passed away. Oh, you mean your best friend, the love of your life, your sweetheart? Like, what?

[Host Sam]

No, it's so stupid, because he doesn't even know it, but he's actually kind of incriminating himself here.

[Daphne]

Yes. And he's. It's almost like he's trying to act like, oh, I didn't really know her.

[Host Sam]

So, yeah, we weren't close, so I.

[Daphne]

Would have no reason to kill her. But exactly like you're saying, he's doing the opposite because now he's caught in a very clear lie. Because even if he didn't post that on socials, police would know. Well, you guys dated for almost two years, and you're calling her the girl.

[Host Sam]

Yeah. You look suspicious.

[Daphne]

It's not. The behavior is not lining up. And he didn't even offer any explanation as to why he refused to call her by her name. But he did not. He didn't say Emma. He also admitted that she had broken things off with him and that he was still trying to heal from it, explaining that he had been alone, crying in his car when she was believed to have been shot, and that he didn't return home to his dorm until 4:30am Brother, what the hell were you.

[Host Sam]

Doing out in the middle of the night crying in your car?

[Daphne]

It's so suspicious. Like, you're admitting that you were out in your car at the time it happened and that you didn't get back to your dorm until an hour after she was killed, which is exactly what would have happened if you had committed the crime. So what? Well, one of the detectives who interviewed him, James Hurst, remembered, quote, when I first met him, I thought he might have been a grieving boyfriend. When we got into the interview room and sat down, I felt like there was a dark side. He didn't have a whole lot of passion or concern. So during the interview as well, Riley explained that Emma had blocked his number on Sunday night. So the night she was killed, essentially because she was killed technically Monday Morning, early. Early. That would mean that she blocked his phone number hours before she died because Riley said they had a fight on the phone. So again, this picture is not adding up. You're calling her the girl, but hours before she died, you knew her well enough to get in a fight with her and for her to block your number.

[Host Sam]

Yeah, and I'm sure that that really fucking pissed Riley off that he was blocked now from her life.

[Daphne]

Yeah, that's giving some motive here. So, yeah, he's saying that he cried in his car for hours, returned to his dorm at 4:30am and as their line of questioning continued and intensified, Riley said without prompting, quote, I hope to God I'm not a suspect in her death. So the detective shot back, did I say you were? But for good measure, Riley added in, I'd hurt myself before I hurt her. Of course, at this point, he was their only suspect, but he staunchly denied any involvement. Police then asked to speak with his mom, who had brought him into the station. But strangely, she didn't want to talk to them. She is refusing to speak with investigators.

[Host Sam]

Of course, she's got this protective thing going on over Riley. That's her son.

[Daphne]

Well, actually, police even noted that his mom herself had a bit of a criminal history, though none of the charges were violent crimes. But she came onto their radar after they discovered that on the night before Emma was murdered, Sunday night, she, the mother, had posted on Facebook, if you mess with my son, I'm going to come after you.

[Google Pixel Ad Narrator]

Support for Unwell comes from Google Pixel. Okay, so I recently had one of those Sundays where I convinced myself it was a great idea to reorganize my entire closet. And of course, halfway through, I found myself sitting on the floor surrounded by clothes, completely overwhelmed. So I pulled out my Google Pixel 10 Pro because it comes with Gemini built in on the phone. I launched my camera using Gemini Live, showed it my crazy closet, and I asked for help. And immediately it hit me up with all sorts of pro organizing tips like what to hang, how to fold stuff, and even helped me decide which items to donate and where to drop them off. It was a lifesaver, ladies. Okay? But while I was neck deep in hoodies, I totally lost track of time until I got a text from Matt saying, hey, what is the address for dinner tonight? Fortunately, the Google Pixel has this feature called Magic Cue that just pulls up the info you need without you having to dig through old emails and stuff. It popped the address right into my text for me and tap it was sent. Daddy. Gang, we could all use a little help making Sundays less scary. So get outside of your comfort phone and try the Google Pixel 10 Pro. Check it [e-mail] these AI features are for users 18 + check responses. Availability and results vary.

[Host Sam]

Do you guys need something to warm your bodies after these chilling stories? Well, this episode is brought to you by El Mayor Tequila, a clean premium tequila that proves less really is more.

[Daphne]

El Mayor Tequila is crafted using only three ingredients, 100% blue Weber agave water and heirloom yeast. Nothing more because four generations of tradition and passion do the rest.

[Host Sam]

Led today by master distiller Grace Gonzalez, the first female in her family to carry forward 150 years of tequila making heritage, the El Mayor Tequila portfolio includes classic expressions like blanco and reposado, plus limited releases like Rosado, Anejo, Extra Anejo, Cristalino and now El Mayor Cafe Reposado which is rested in coffee seasoned bourbon barrels for a smooth agave character with subtle roasted coffee notes.

[Daphne]

The Cafe Reposado is our favorite. Heath and I had some by the fire last night while we watched a movie. It is so unique and delicious. Like El Mayor's tequila seriously has extraordinary quality and craftsmanship and actually it's often half the price of similar brands. But El Mayor's award winning tequila is clean, smooth and always worth the pour.

[Host Sam]

Discover more@el mayor.com and find El Mayor Tequila at a retailer near you. Please enjoy responsibly my friends. As the holidays creep up and the schedules get packed, Home Chef is here to keep your meals balanced and easy. With so many options for delivery, you can stick to a routine that feels good without sacrificing flavor or wasting time on takeout and grocery runs.

[Daphne]

Home Chef is rated number one by users of other meal kits for quality, convenience, value, taste and recipe ease. Like whatever kind of day it is, classic recipes with fresh ingredients, 30 minute meals, oven ready trays or quick microwave options, Home Chef has you covered. Like sometimes you want an amazing home cooked meal but you really don't have time and Heath and I have been experiencing that a lot lately.

[Host Sam]

Oh yes we have.

[Daphne]

So here's some stuff you can get from Home Chef Black Garlic Butter Chicken with Kale Mashed Potatoes Italian Sausage and Pepper Risotto with Parmesan Vegetarian Gnocchi with Homemade Red Pepper Cream Sauce and Garlic Bread. Like it's such a a choose your adventure kind of thing. They have options for everybody. So for a limited time Home Chef is offering our listeners 50 off and free shipping for your first box. Plus free dessert for life.

[Host Sam]

Go to homechef.com goingwest that's homechef.com going.

[Daphne]

West for 50 off your first box and free dessert for life.

[Host Sam]

Homechef.com goingwest must be an active subscriber to receive free dessert.

[Daphne]

Before that, quick break. I read you something that Riley's mom posted on Facebook. If you mess with my son, I'm going to come after you. So that's kind of a concerning post, especially because it does seem like she could in some way be aware of what her son is doing, or at least of her son's behavior and might be covering for him.

[Host Sam]

I mean, it seems like this could be a reason why he's such a spoiled brat.

[Daphne]

Yeah, maybe. Yeah, it comes from the mom.

[Host Sam]

I mean, I'm not trying to put that on her, but who knows? Well, sadly, with no evidence to prove his involvement, police were forced to release Riley in order to start building a case against him. Him. So detectives focused on ballistics in hopes of narrowing their investigation on Riley. But guess what? Then they discovered that Riley's grandfather had reported his 9mm gun missing just three days before Emma was shot on Friday, November 18th. Riley's grandfather. So this is James Walker, who coincidentally has the same last name, but no relation, of course, to Emma, noticed that his gun was missing from his car after he had driven to Maryville College to swap his car out with Riley's in order to get the tires fixed.

[Daphne]

Okay, so Riley is around the gun when it goes missing, huh?

[Host Sam]

Exactly. Well, after switching the cars back, he checked under the front seat and found that the gun that he had kept there was missing. Now, he initially told police that he was worried about the well being of his grandson, who had been really depressed recently and had admitted to having suicidal thoughts.

[Daphne]

So this is even before Emma is killed, he is concerned about his grandson having the gun.

[Host Sam]

Yes, exactly. And as authorities suspected, the shell casings found at Emma's house were a match for that very gun. So James Walker's gun that had been reported stolen. With police now kind of closing in on Riley, he was beginning to panic. So he turned to two of his best friends from high school, Noah Walton and Alex McCarty, for help, admitting to them that he had taken his grandfather's gun and pleaded with them for help in disposing of it, which, I mean, I don't really know why you need help disposing of a gun. You could just throw it into a fucking river.

[Daphne]

I mean, he's scared. And why else would you dispose of a gun if you didn't do something bad with it.

[Host Sam]

Yeah, it says a lot here. Well, he claimed that he had taken it for protection, but swore to them that he had nothing to do with Emma's murder and that the timing of him taking the gun was merely coincidental.

[Daphne]

Yeah, just like you being out in your car when the murder happened.

[Host Sam]

Like a lot of coincidences, Riley, far too many. But both Noah and Alex were really put off by this, and they were concerned that their friend wanted to conceal a stolen gun in the aftermath of a deadly shooting like this was obviously very suspicious to them. So the friends decided to do the right thing here and reported this to the police who were investigating Emma's murder, which was obviously just giving detectives more reason to believe in Riley's guilt. So that very day, detectives with the Knox County Sheriff's Department staged a setup. Riley had told his friends of his intention to toss the gun into the Tennessee river for quick disposal. So the police came back to Noah and Alex with a proposal.

[Daphne]

Nice little poem there.

[Host Sam]

Yeah, exactly. And they were just wondering if maybe these two friends would kind of help them catch their friend, the man that police felt may have been responsible for the murder of an innocent teenage girl. And guess what? These two friends, I mean, they were very honest and good people, and they decided to do just that.

[Daphne]

So Noah and Alex were wired with recording devices in hopes, obviously, that Riley would kind of slip up and say something incriminating before they headed out to drop the gun. From a bluff above the river, the boys met up and chatted for a while as police listened intently to this whole conversation. And Riley spoke candidly with them about his grief for his slain ex girlfriend, Emma, telling them, I want to be so upset, and I can't because I'm more worried about getting arrested and put away for a murder that I didn't commit. I mean, never in my life would I kill someone that I love that much. So Noah and Alex were quick to offer words of comfort. You know, they're playing the game here. But Riley's paranoia was evident. He told them, quote, I'm trusting you guys, like, with my life. Cause, I mean, this is 70 years in jail if I get convicted of something I didn't do. So then Alex questioned him and said, why can't you just give them the gun?

[Host Sam]

Boom. That was. So that was perfect timing for Alex.

[Daphne]

Well, yeah, because if you didn't do this and it wasn't your grandfather's gun that was a part of the shooting, then what do you have to hide?

[Host Sam]

Yeah, just give up the Gun.

[Daphne]

Yeah. So Riley responded, quote, just, it just needs to be gone for whatever reason, just, it just needs to be gone. Like he doesn't have an answer.

[Host Sam]

He's kind of freaking the fuck out. Yeah.

[Daphne]

So the three of them followed through with their plan and drove to Riley's stepdad's house where he had concealed the gun in a pillowc case. So they grabbed the pillowcase and they headed to pick up fast food together and ate in the car with Alex, remembering, quote, it was like almost the whole time we were like saying goodbye to one of our best friends. And he added that it was kind of comforting to, quote, have it be like it was before. You know, they're, they're kind of trying to have this last time with their friend because they don't know. They're, they feel like he probably did do this, but they're hoping that he didn't. They're hoping that they can actually prove the opposite, but they're, they have really bad feelings about, about Riley's guilt here.

[Host Sam]

Yeah. Especially when the conversation just continues. You know, it's like Riley's making it more and more evident that he's probably responsible.

[Daphne]

And Noah echoed that it was kind of one final moment of normalcy before they were certain that their friend was going away for decades as they hoped it would not be. You know, they hoped it would not go in that direction, but they fear that it is. So the three of them then drove out to the parking lot of an apartment complex that featured access to, you know, the bluff over the river. And there in the passenger seat, Riley pulled the gun out of the pillowcase and let the guys see it. But the police hadn't made it to them yet. So Alex and Noah are getting scared because they're like, oh my God, he's taking out the gun. We're at the bluff, he's gonna throw it off. Everything's gonna be, yeah.

[Host Sam]

If that gun goes into the river, there might be a slim chance that they can't find it.

[Daphne]

Yeah. Or, you know, they want all the evidence that's on the gun if it hasn't been cleaned, whatever. So Alex is getting nervous and he's trying to stall for time. He's panicking, you know. So Alex grabbed the gun from his friend's hand to look at it, but Riley snatched it back from him. And it was at this point, finally, that police descended on them, placing 18 year old Riley in custody and searching that vehicle. And guess what? Also found inside that pillowcase was the clothing that Riley had been wearing. During the murder, those black clothes. And we really gotta hand it to Noah and Alex here. This is their best friend. Riley is their best friend of many years. This guy that they had a great relationship with, who they have to now face, is a murderer, and they have to be a part of it. And there. There has to be that horrible feeling associated with, oh, yeah, we're here to help you, buddy. And then the police show up, and it's like, yeah, we did this to you. Even though it's like, well, Riley did it to himself. But I imagine there is guilt associated with that, even though you're doing the right thing.

[Host Sam]

Yeah, of course. And it. It really does feel like a scene from a movie. The fact that, you know, they're trying to stall before Riley can toss that gun into the river. And Alex just grabs it from him. And it's like, you can feel that heart pounding moment of like, oh, my God, I need to stall. I need to make sure that the police can get here and catch him in the act. So, as police, and basically everybody sort of expected Riley's Grandpa's stolen gun, that 9 millimeter was found to match the shell casings left at the scene. Furthermore, his cell phone records actually placed him in the vicinity of Emma's house at the time of the shooting. So, I mean, there's really no way of getting out of this. The bullet casings are matching, and now they know that you were in that.

[Daphne]

Area, and they know that he was lying because he said at that time he was by his college, he was crying in his car, and then he went to his dorm, and. And they can tell by the cell phone records that that is not true.

[Host Sam]

Yeah, none of that was true. So Riley was arrested on the evening of November 22, 2016, just one day after the murder and two days before the holiday, held on a $750,000 bond. Now, in addition to Emma's murder, he was charged with aggravated stalking, employing a firearm during a felony, and tampering with evidence. And guess what, guys? He pleaded not guilty. In February of 2017, he actually bonded out of jail at the cost of a million dollars and was released on house arrest to await trial. His mother, of course, stood by him, telling the local news, riley did not do this. He would not hurt her because he loved Emma dearly. He is not a monster. But in a. In a really shocking twist here, the defense opened with their admission that Riley was guilty of the murder of his ex girlfriend. Which is kind of crazy. We don't typically see that.

[Daphne]

Yeah, so. But of course they have an angle, you know, like, yes, he did it, but. So what's the but?

[Host Sam]

Yeah, and here, here's the but. His attorney, Wesley Stone, claimed that Riley had not meant to kill Emma and that like the kidnapping scare and the staged break in attempt, he simply wanted to be needed by her. So they're basically saying, oh, yeah, he. He was just actually shooting into her window because he wanted her to call him. Just like, you know, the attempt with the guy in wearing all the black clothes. And. But it's just complete bullshit, obviously, because we know that the first shot was fired, right? And that went through the wall, it missed her, and he re corrected because he was intending to kill her.

[Daphne]

And I think that also says a lot about how screwed they must have really been with that evidence that even the defense knows. We can't deny this, so we have to find a way around it.

[Host Sam]

So basically, in Riley's mind, or at least in his defense, they're saying that, you know, this shooting would scare her into calling him and summoning him to her aid, which would eventually result in them getting back together. So instead of first degree murder, Wesley posed the theory that his client was guilty of the lesser charge of reckless homicide.

[Daphne]

Just get out of here.

[Host Sam]

Yeah.

[Daphne]

That is so annoying. Also, oh, my God, like, obviously this is crazy, but when you really pick it apart and you're like, I just wanted her to need me, then you wouldn't have shot. You would have like, banged on the window or something. You would have made some like, harmless attempt, actually. Harmless attempt of getting her to need you, like the phone calls or. You know what? Like, this is crazy.

[Host Sam]

Well, but the thing is, is that, you know, everything was just escalating for Riley. It started with him lying on a ditch, saying he was abducted and hit in the head. And then it went from that to, oh, man, there's somebody trying to break into your house. I'll be right there to save you. And then from there it goes to, you know, shooting through her wall and then claiming that, oh, I didn't mean to kill her. I just meant to scare her so that she would need me.

[Daphne]

He. The guy needs to learn how to take no for an answer. Like, she doesn't want to be with you. Go be in college, find somebody else, move on with your life. It's just sick.

[Host Sam]

And this is. This is what happens in 100% of cases that we talk about with stalking, is that, you know, this whole rejection thing, it's like these guys really can't handle it. It's like move on with your life, but nothing.

[Daphne]

And unfortunately, I don't think that they can think about it this way. Nothing you do is going to make them want you back. Like, it's just over, and that's okay.

[Host Sam]

Yeah. And it seems like actually the more you do, the more they're not going to want to be with you.

[Daphne]

Yes, exactly. So the prosecution argued that Riley had known exactly what he was doing and had gotten the outcome that he actually sought. You know, he knew the layout of her house and her bedroom, and he shot directly through the side of her house and into her skull where her head lay on the pillow, which, by the way, would have placed him just five feet away from Emma at the time he pulled the trigger from the other side of the wall. So, yeah, the crime reeked of premeditation. More than an hour of his harrowing interrogation was played for the court, as well as the footage of the sting operation, which was graciously set up with the help of his best friends, whom detectives regarded as heroes. So with all the evidence, then 19 year old Riley Gaul was found guilty on May 8, 2018, and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the first 51 years of his sentence. Because they know the malice that this crime would have taken. They know how dangerous of a person Riley was, even at only 18 years old. Knox County, Tennessee, now recognizes March 24 as Emma Walker Day. Her birthday is March 20, so we're not exactly sure why it's the 24th, but that is the day that they honor her. There's also a scholarship in her honor at her high school, as well as a room named after her in her local neonatal intensive care unit. And Emma even has her own namesake dog park. I mean, it's kind of amazing. This county recognized all of her favorite things. She loved animals. She wanted to be a neonatal nurse. And they're recognizing her life's purpose and they're dedicating all these things to her.

[Host Sam]

Yeah, it really seems like this community, you know, really cared about Emma Walker and. And you love to see it. Really?

[Daphne]

Absolutely. So in the aftermath of Riley sentencing, Emma's mom, Jill, has taken to using activism to find funnel her grief into. She volunteers for domestic violence causes and constantly advocates for victims. She shared that no matter how much time has passed since her daughter's murder, she's still hearing about ways that her daughter touched the lives of those around her. Jill said proudly, quote, I have received a few notes from other mothers who wrote to me and said, my daughter was being picked on and Emma stood up for her. It makes me feel good to know that she was out there doing the right thing and not just following along with what other people did. That says a lot. Thank you so much, everybody, for listening to this episode of going west.

[Host Sam]

Yes. Thank you guys so much for listening to this episode. What a tragic story. I mean, just all the way around. The fact that Emma Walker had so much life ahead of her. The fact that Riley did, too, and he chose to go down this wrong path.

[Daphne]

Yeah. And now he's going to be in prison for the rest of his life.

[Host Sam]

Yeah.

[Daphne]

So thank you guys so much for tuning into this one. Definitely share with anybody, like, again, who's younger or somebody you think could use it, Because I think there is really so much to learn here. Even though, you know, Emma, of course, didn't do anything wrong here and she did break up with him. She did block his number, all those things. But Riley should not have been allowed to be in her life for that long, Especially after he was showing this horrific behavior. You know, it's always important to report this kind of stuff to police, But I don't think, again, that anybody really realized how dangerous he was. But these are such clear signs that we can now recognize using this story. So, yeah, thank you, guys. We will see you on Tuesday. We will be here next week even through the Thanksgiving holiday with two episodes as usual. So we will keep you company during the holidays and we will see you then.

[Host Sam]

All right, guys. So for everybody out there in the.

[Daphne]

World, don't be a stranger. Sam.

[T Mobile Customer]

Ever since switching to T mobile, something weird has been happening. I get to cut lines.

[Narrator/Commercial Voice]

Oh, right this way.

[T Mobile Customer]

Who, me? I can stream shows at 30,000ft and I was able to buy reserve tickets.

[Daphne]

For my favorite band.

[Narrator/Commercial Voice]

It's not just you. With T Mobile, everyone can get VIP status. That means access to exclusive events and experiences just for being a customer. At T Mobile, VIP means y o u. Check out the VIP treatment@t mobile.com benefits.

[Ross Shopper Narrator]

Come to DSW for the shoes, stay for the fun. Because let's be honest, if shoe shopping isn't fun, are you even doing it right? So go ahead, try something new. Try something different.

[Host Sam]

Good different.

[Ross Shopper Narrator]

Try something that feels like you. You know, the real you. And then definitely brag about it later. Because at dsw, you've got unlimited freedom to play. Buy the shoes that get you at prices that get your budget at DSW stores [e-mail] let us surprise you.