It started like any other high school romance in Knoxville. Emma Walker was the bubbly 16-year-old cheerleader at Central High, a girl who wanted to be a neonatal nurse. Riley Gaul was the 18-year-old football player who seemed, at least at first, like a "sweet and nice" kid. But by November 2016, this "All-American" story turned into something much darker.
People still talk about this case. Honestly, it’s because it feels so close to home. It wasn’t a random act of violence by a stranger. It was a calculated, obsessed escalation by someone who claimed to love her.
The Breakup He Wouldn’t Accept
Emma had finally had enough. After two years of a relationship her mother, Jill Walker, described as increasingly "controlling" and "volatile," Emma ended things in the fall of 2016. She was a junior; he was a freshman at Maryville College. She was moving on. He was not.
Gaul’s reaction wasn't just typical heartbreak. It was a series of bizarre, staged events designed to manipulate Emma back into his life. Basically, he tried to play the hero by creating the danger himself.
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- The Fake Kidnapping: Two nights before the murder, Emma received texts from an unknown number claiming someone she knew had been kidnapped. She went outside a friend's house to find Gaul lying in a ditch, claiming he’d been abducted.
- The Man in Black: The very next day, a mysterious figure in black clothes started banging on her door. Terrified, she called Gaul for help.
- The Hero Complex: Prosecutors later argued these were "dry runs"—attempts to scare her so she’d run back into his "protective" arms.
What Happened on November 21, 2016
Early that Monday morning, Jill Walker went into Emma’s room to wake her for school. Emma didn't move. At first, her mother thought she was just in a deep sleep, but she soon discovered the unthinkable. Emma had been shot in the head while she slept.
The investigation moved fast. Investigators found two bullet holes in the exterior wall of the house, right where Emma’s bed was located. Gaul had used his grandfather's 9mm Glock. He stood in the dark backyard and fired through the wall, knowing exactly where she was lying.
The Sting and the Trial
The most chilling part of the Emma Walker and Riley Gaul story is how he was caught. Gaul’s own friends, Alex and Isaac, became suspicious. They went to the police and agreed to wear a wire.
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They caught Gaul on video trying to dispose of the murder weapon in a local trash bin. He even asked them how to get fingerprints off a gun. While he was doing this, he was posting "rest in peace" tributes to Emma on Twitter, acting the part of the grieving boyfriend. It was a level of cold-bloodedness that shocked the Knoxville community.
During the 2018 trial, Gaul’s defense team tried a "bizarre" strategy. They didn't deny he fired the shots. Instead, they argued he only meant to scare her so he could "rescue" her again. They wanted a reckless homicide conviction. The jury wasn't buying it. It took them only four hours to find William Riley Gaul guilty of first-degree murder.
The Sentence and Current Status
In May 2018, Gaul was sentenced to life in prison. In Tennessee, "life" means he must serve at least 51 years before he is even eligible for parole.
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As of early 2026, he remains behind bars. He has tried to appeal multiple times—most recently filing petitions for a new trial or a reconsidered sentence in 2024 and 2025. He’s argued there wasn't enough evidence of "intent." So far, the courts haven't changed their minds.
Why This Case Still Matters
This wasn't just a "tragic accident" or a "love story gone wrong." It is a textbook case of teen dating violence. Experts point to the "red flags" Emma's parents saw:
- Isolation from friends and family.
- Constant, obsessive messaging.
- Drastic mood swings.
- Stalking behaviors masked as "checking in."
Emma’s legacy lives on through the Emma Walker Memorial Scholarship and a dedicated room at the East Tennessee Children’s Hospital. Her mother continues to speak out, hoping other parents will recognize the signs before a breakup turns deadly.
Actionable Insights for Parents and Teens
If you’re worried about a relationship—your own or a friend’s—don’t ignore the gut feeling that something is "off."
- Trust the "Vibe": If friends and family are consistently worried about your partner's behavior, listen. They see things you might be rationalizing away.
- The "Hero" Narrative is a Trap: If someone is constantly "rescuing" you from situations they seem to have a hand in, that's a major red flag for manipulation.
- Safety During Breakups: The most dangerous time in an abusive relationship is immediately after the victim leaves. If you are ending a volatile relationship, do it in a safe, public way and let your parents or authorities know.
- Monitor the Tech: Digital stalking is often the first step. If a partner demands passwords or uses GPS to track you, it’s not love; it’s control.
Resources:
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic or dating violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text "START" to 88788. You can also reach out to local advocacy groups like Marsy's Law for Tennessee which supports victims' rights.