A Missouri woman wanted in connection with a crash that killed three children was arrested in Texas, according to the U.S. Marshals Service.
Kaia Walls, 33, of Hayti, was taken into custody Oct. 22 in Waco, authorities said. The arrest was announced Wednesday as investigators continued pursuing charges connected to the Sept. 25 wreck in New Madrid County.
Walls faces multiple felony counts stemming from the crash, including allegations that she was driving while intoxicated when the collision occurred. She has not been convicted of the charges described by authorities.
Charges filed after fatal Route 61 crash
The case centers on a collision on U.S. Route 61. Investigators say Walls was driving an SUV when it struck the rear of a pickup truck. The SUV then left the roadway and overturned, according to information from the Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report.
Six people, including four children, were inside the SUV, the report said. Three of Walls’ children died from injuries sustained in the crash, according to the Marshals Service. The source information does not identify the children or provide additional details about the condition of the other people involved.
| Case detail | Information released |
|---|---|
| Crash date | Sept. 25 |
| Crash location | U.S. Route 61 in New Madrid County |
| Arrest date | Oct. 22 |
| Arrest location | Waco, Texas |
| Defendant | Kaia Walls, 33, of Hayti |
Extensive list of allegations
The charges announced in the case include:
- Three counts of second-degree murder
- Three counts of DWI-death of a person
- 13 counts of armed criminal action
- Four counts of endangering the welfare of a child
- Two counts of DWI-serious physical injury
- One count of first-degree assault
The number and variety of charges reflect the deaths, injuries and circumstances investigators attributed to the crash. The released information does not state when the charges were filed, identify the court handling the case or provide a scheduled Missouri court date.
Marshals followed lead to Texas
The U.S. Marshals Service became involved after Walls was listed as a fugitive. Investigators developed a lead that took authorities to Waco, where she was arrested without incident, the agency said.
The arrest brought the multistate search to an end more than three weeks after the New Madrid County crash. The Marshals Service said Walls will be extradited to Missouri following her arrest. The information released did not specify the timing or location of her transfer.
“Fugitives who actively evade capture or try to avoid responsibility for their crimes should know there is no place to hide. We will find you and bring you to justice.”
The statement came from Steven Lewis, U.S. marshal for the Eastern District of Missouri. Lewis also commended the Missouri State Highway Patrol for its investigation and for allowing federal marshals to assist with the arrest.
Investigation remains focused on crash
The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s crash report is the source of the basic collision details released publicly: the SUV struck a pickup truck, ran off the road and overturned. The report also documented that six people, including four children, were in the SUV.
The allegations will now proceed through the Missouri criminal justice system after Walls is returned to the state. Any further court proceedings, evidence and arguments from prosecutors or the defense were not included in the information available Wednesday.
For families and communities affected by fatal roadway crashes, the case underscores the lasting consequences of a collision involving impaired-driving allegations. In this case, the investigation resulted in charges tied not only to the deaths of three children but also to alleged serious injuries and child endangerment.
Walls remains accused of the offenses unless and until proven guilty in court. Authorities have not announced additional arrests in connection with the crash.
