Son of slain KSU professor charged with murder

by Ed Meyer

Beacon Journal staff writer

Murder charges have been filed against an 18-year-old autistic man accused of the fatal beating of his mother, Kent State University political science professor Gertrude ''Trudy'' Steuernagel.

Sky Walker has been held at the Portage County Jail in lieu of a $2 million bond since the Jan. 29 attack at the family's home in Franklin Township.

A grand jury returned an indictment against Walker for two counts of murder and one count of assault on a law enforcement officer, according to court records. The indictment was filed last Friday.

Steuernagel, 60, died Feb. 6 at Akron City Hospital from injuries suffered in the beating. Results of an autopsy by the Summit County Medical Examiner's Officer are pending, a spokesman said today.

Portage County Sheriff David Doak said deputies were sent to the Franklin Township home about 11:40 a.m. on Jan. 29 after Steuernagel's friends became concerned when she did not show up for classes.

Deputies found Steuernagel's body on the kitchen floor, and when they began searching the home, they found her son in the basement. Walker is accused of kicking a deputy during a struggle.

Portage County prosecutors are awaiting results of an evaluation of Walker by the Summit County Psycho-Diagnostic Clinic to determine his IQ and whether he is competent to stand trial, court records showed.

Steuernagel had been a Kent State faculty member since 1975. She taught courses in political theory, women and politics and public policy. She won the Distinguished Honor Faculty Award in 1994.

Source: http://www.ohio.com/news/break_news/40247072.html

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