Madison County Man Receives Two Life Sentences Plus Thirty Years for Stabbing, Killing, and Burning Wife and Stepdaughter

Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced that Walter Simpson, 47, was sentenced today by Circuit Court Judge Steve Ratcliff after being convicted of the double murders of his wife and stepdaughter. A jury found Simpson guilty of two counts of First Degree Murder, one count of First Degree Arson, and one count of Possession of a Weapon by a Convicted Felon on October 29, 2020. Judge Ratcliff sentenced Simpson to life without parole for each of the murder convictions, twenty years for the first degree arson conviction, and ten years for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

On June 5, 2018, the Madison County Sheriff’s Department was dispatched to Crown Road located in the Camden area to a home belonging to Walter and Falonda Simpson as well as her daughter Davonda Washington. When they arrived on scene, they found two badly burned bodies inside the home. Each victim had suffered multiple stab wounds and were both deceased.

Authorities were able to determine that Simpson had stabbed his step-daughter and wife to death and then attempted to set their bodies and the house on fire. Simpson was found guilty after a three day jury trial. Family members of both victims testified during the sentencing hearing.

District Attorney Bramlett stated “We want to again tell the victims’ families that we are so sorry that this happened to their loved ones. We hope it brings them some closure to know that Mr. Simpson will never get out of prison as they continue to grieve their loved ones.”