James Ronald Pagan, 31, pleaded not guilty in Lake County Superior Court Friday for the murder of 10-year-old Tessa Walker. Pagan was quickly identified as the only suspect in the stabbing murder and attempted murder of her older sister, 14-year-old Kristen Walker, that occurred on Good Friday, March 21.
Tessa Walker succumbed to the stabbing wounds after being transported to Redbud Hospital in Clearlake. Kristen Walker suffered a stab wound and was flown to the Children”s Hospital in Oakland and treated, but is now at home and doing well physically, her father, Lower Lake physician Dr. Ronald R. Walker previously reported.
Lake County Sheriff detectives have not identified a motive in the murder, which occurred as the girls walked along the road to a friend”s house in the quiet, gated community of Hidden Valley Lake in the afternoon marking the beginning of spring break.
Within days, the Walker family publicly gave their forgiveness for the “man who took our daughter from us.”
At Pagan”s first court appearance held at the end of last month, his mother read condolences to the Walker family, after defense attorney Ken Roush was appointed by Lake County Superior Court to defend him. The arraignment was his first court appearance, and Friday”s plea entry his second.
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