West Plains, MO. – The criminal case of a Winona man accused of raping a woman in August has moved to Howell County.
Luke M. Walker, age 36, is charged with one count of 1st-degree rape or attempted rape following an incident on the night of August 4th.
A female victim reported to the Shannon County Sheriff’s Office on August 5th that she had been kidnapped and sexually assaulted by Walker. The woman told authorities Walker had grabbed her, shoved her into his truck, and forced her to have sex on a gravel road and off H Highway at 9 p.m. on the 4th. She said he then dropped her off and said he would kill her if she said anything.
Walker told authorities she had willingly gotten into his vehicle at 8:45 and went to the previously mentioned locations and had consensual sex before he dropped her off at her house at 9:15 p.m. Walker also stated he had previous sexual contact with the victim.
According to the probable cause statement, a nurse that checked the woman noted bruising to the genital area that was not consistent with consensual sex.
