November 27, 1964: Secretary Found Stabbed to Death in the ‘Thanksgiving’ Murder

Posted on November 27, 2025 by lmharnisch

November 27, 1964: Portrait of Joyce Gail Walker.
Note: This is an encore post from 2009.

November 27, 1964: The death of Joyce Gayle Walker is one of the more haunting killings of the 1960s. I’m not sure it was ever solved. I can’t find any follow-up stories on it.

Update: There are a few stories about a false confession in the case, but that’s about all.

“This murder is one of the toughest we’ve ever had,” sheriff’s Homicide Detective James Hamilton said in 1967.

November 27, 1964: Thanksgiving murder of Joyce Gail Walker

… and a bylined version by Howard Hertel and Jack Smith.

November 27, 1964: Thanksgiving murder of Joyce Gail Walker.

November 27, 1964: Thanksgiving murder of Joyce Gail Walker.

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times
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