JOSHUA LEE WALDEN
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Just after midnight the morning of Saturday, December 9th, 2000, 17-year old Crystal Walden called police to report her 10-year old brother, Joshua Lee Walden, missing.
When he disappeared, Josh was wearing a red shirt and black jeans, riding a 20-inch Magnum bicycle which he had painted with a dull red paint. He was last seen in the 4500 block of 14th Avenue, near his family home. Friends, neighbors, and police searched the neighborhood but found no sign of Josh. The next day, Josh's brother, Jonathan, and some other boys were playing in a wooded area off the 3100 block of Sixteenth Avenue on the western slope of Missionary Ridge -- about a half mile from the Walden home -- when they found Josh's body. It was found in a depression in the ground, covered in leaves. |
The killer had poured Muriatic acid on the body.
An autopsy found superficial abrasions on Josh's nose and the right side of his face. There were no major abrasions and no signs of sexual assault.
The investigation revealed Josh was fanatical about wearing shoes. He never took them off, not even when he went to bed. His parents would take off his shoes after he fell asleep and when woke up Josh would be mad to find his shoes removed.
However, the boy's body was left with the feet uncovered with no socks or shoes on or near the body.
An autopsy found superficial abrasions on Josh's nose and the right side of his face. There were no major abrasions and no signs of sexual assault.
The investigation revealed Josh was fanatical about wearing shoes. He never took them off, not even when he went to bed. His parents would take off his shoes after he fell asleep and when woke up Josh would be mad to find his shoes removed.
However, the boy's body was left with the feet uncovered with no socks or shoes on or near the body.
Original Investigating Agency: Chattanooga Police Department
If you have information on this case, please use the form below or call the cold case hotline: 423-209-7470
