West Pleads Guilty to Role in Courson Murder

Walter West of Edgewood was sentenced Friday on two separate cases for a period of 35 years total to the Illinois Department of Corrections.

West pled guilty in Clay County Circuit Court to First-Degree Murder, a Class M Felony, Friday for a sentence of 30 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. He also pled guilty to Escape, a Class 2 Felony, on Friday for a sentence of 5 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

The First-Degree Murder charge alleged that on September 25, 2021, West strangled Roger Courson of rural Edgewood at his home, causing his death, while West and other participants were engaged in a Residential Burglary. The Escape charge alleged that, on December 23, 2021, West intentionally escaped from the Clay County Jail by evading a correctional officer and running through a door exiting the jail at a time he was being held on felony charges. West pled guilty to both charges and must serve 100 percent of the 30 year sentence for First-Degree Murder. West will be required to serve a Mandatory Supervised Release period of 3 years as well. He is eligible for credit on the Escape charge pursuant to Illinois statute.

The Murder investigation was conducted by the Illinois State Police and assisted by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office. Clay County State’s Attorney Phillip Givens states, “My office would like to thank the Illinois State Police for working so diligently and efficiently in building a Murder case within a matter of days. This is another case with multiple agencies working together including our own Clay County Sheriff’s Office. This is also another successful case involving a tip from CrimeStoppers. The defendant was taken into custody within a week of the crime. My office encourages Clay County residents to use that resource. The resolution of this case guarantees the defendant will be in Prison for the next three decades where he belongs.”

West is charged with two others, Christopher Gallatin of Centralia and Jamie Charlton of Centralia, with Courson's murder and the residential burglary. Their cases are still pending.