Murder victim pregnant, best friend says
Candace Hankins, the 29-year-old LaFayette woman who police say was murdered on Sunday, Jan. 15, by her boyfriend, was four months pregnant, say Tiffany Salvia, a childhood friend.
Salvia said she and Hankins had been friends since they were 12 years old living in Athens, Ala. Salvia still lives in Athens, while Hankins moved to LaFayette 7-8 years ago, Salvia said.
“I still can’t believe it,” Salvia said about her friend’s death.
Hankins, who has a 3-year-old son, told friends and family she was fourmonths pregnant, Salvia said.
David Ryan Walker, 29, was charged Sunday, Jan. 15, with Hankins murder. The couple lived at 956 Wheeler Road.
Officials don’t have a motive for the killing, but say Hankins died from blunt force trauma.
They believe Walker wrapped his girlfriend’s body in a blanket and placed her in a wooded area near their house. He then contacted family members to help him get rid of the body, but they immediately notified authorities, officials say.
Officials as of late last week had not released any information on whether Hankins was pregnant, saying they are awaiting autopsy results. But they have said that Walker could face an additional murder charge if she was pregnant.
This is the first murder in Walker County in 2017.
Positive and outgoing, despite losses
Salvia said Hankins experienced a great deal of loss in her life, but she remained optimist and happy.
Salvia lost her father, and then in 2002 Hankins lost her mother. The girls’ bond grew stronger from that shared experience, Salvia said.
For Hankins the loss continued as her father died in February 2016, Salvia said.
Hankins lost her grandmother just a few weeks ago, Salvia said. When she lost her grandmother, with whom Hankins had a “close bond,” she felt more alone than ever.
“That was kind of the last person that she felt like she really had,” Salvia said. “She had a lot of loss.”
Hankins had suffered from two vehicle accidents in the past year.
“She was dealt a bad hand in life,” Salvia said.
But all this loss didn’t change Hankins’ positive and outgoing personality, Salvia said.
“She was always just smiling and happy. She had a heart for people and would do anything for anybody,” Salvia said. “She was a wonderful person and a great friend to her friends. Whenever her friends had their kids,