An Indiana man was arrested and charged with three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder after reportedly killing his girlfriend, the woman’s mother, and three family members at their house. The crime happened after a marital disagreement, and the 77-year-old defendant, P. Walte, allegedly called Indiana authorities to confess to the fatal shootings.
When sheriff’s deputies arrived at the family’s home, they discovered three bodies: 61-year-old Alma, her mother, 81-year-old Gloria, and her 39-year-old son Fernando. A fourth victim, 44-year-old Ruan, was found gravely injured with gunshot wounds to the neck and chest and evacuated to the emergency center.
According to the affidavit, the elderly man told investigators that an altercation with his wife escalated when she requested him to leave the house, citing a quitclaim deed that transferred title to her daughter. The 77-year-old man claimed to have a handgun in his back pocket after shooting an animal outside earlier in the day. He allegedly shot his wife in the kitchen before moving to the den, where he shot her parents and two sons. The 77-year-old shooter told deputies that the pistol was found on a lawnmower in the garage.
Four other people, including a kid, were present in the home during the shootings but were not injured. A teenage witness claims to have seen the defendant shoot the victims before hiding in an upstairs restroom with two other adults.
He was arrested without incident and taken to the Sheriff’s Office, where he waived his Miranda rights and gave a recorded statement to police. He expressed regret and admitted that he realized what he had done was wrong.
On June 2, 2025, the 77-year-old guy appeared in court for the first time and pleaded not guilty. He is still being held without bond, with his next court date set for July 21, 2025.
A GoFundMe page has been created to help with the victims’ burial expenses. The investigation is still ongoing, with many law enforcement organizations participating, including the Indiana State Police.
According to an affidavit filed in Superior Court, the defendant indicated that his spouse informed him that she had filed a quitclaim deed transferring ownership of their property to her daughter. The defendant, who had resided in the house for 27 years, refused to leave, citing his extended stay as justification.
According to property records, he and his then-wife, Nanci, purchased the single-family home in 1998. After the woman died in 2019, he became the sole owner of the property. After marrying his bride in 2024, she became the sole owner of the residence. On March 27, 2025, the woman added her family member’s name to the deed.