Former Alabama political staffer indicted on charges of murder, sexual torture of man in 2024
07/30/2026 8:41 am PDT
MADISON COUNTY, Ala. (TCN) -- A man accused of sexually assaulting a man before killing him with a hammer has been indicted by a grand jury on charges of murder and sexual torture, and a date has been set for his trial to begin.
According to the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a residence on March 7, 2024, after receiving a report of a deceased male. When they arrived, they found 54-year-old Derek Franklin Walls dead. Investigators determined he had died after an alleged physical altercation with Kyle Lewter, then 36.
According to court documents obtained by WHNT, Walls’ death was caused by blunt force with a hammer, and he was also allegedly sexually assaulted by Lewter with an inanimate object before he was killed.
On July 16, Lewter was indicted by a grand jury on charges of murder and sexual torture, WHNT reports.
According to campaign finance records and social media posts, Lewter worked for the Alabama GOP as a campaign chairman for Sen. Tom Butler, WHNT reports.
Court documents obtained by 1819 News allege Lewter has a history of mental health struggles, including diagnoses of bipolar I disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, mood disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder.
According to a jail psychologist’s report obtained by 1819 News, Lewter allegedly wanted to run for office, eventually replacing Butler.
According to an online obituary for Walls, “Derek was an avid hunter and fisher who had a passion for Alabama football and the great outdoors.”
WHNT reports Lewter is scheduled to go to trial Nov. 2.
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