A St. Augustine man wanted in Flagler County for stealing a gold necklace during a Facebook Marketplace exchange is now in custody after being arrested by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
Detectives with the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office General Assignment Unit obtained an arrest warrant for William Walker, 44, on charges of dealing in stolen property, grand theft, and unlawful use of a two-way communication device.
Investigators say Walker stole the victim’s necklace on July 1 during a Facebook Marketplace meetup at a barbershop in Palm Coast, then later contacted the victim, demanding payment for its return.
How the Theft Unfolded
According to the victim, he had listed the necklace for sale on Facebook Marketplace and agreed on a price of $7,000 with a buyer later identified as Walker. The two planned to meet the next day at the barbershop to complete the sale.
When Walker arrived, he came in an Uber with an unidentified woman. He told the victim his wife needed to run to an ATM for the rest of the cash. While waiting inside the shop, Walker walked to the window, tapped on it, waved, and quickly left wearing the necklace before jumping into the Uber, which then drove off.
Detectives were able to identify the vehicle and confirm Walker’s identity. An envelope marked with $1,200 on the outside, containing toilet paper and a St. Augustine hotel key, was later found by the victim and linked to Walker.
Extortion Attempt Leads to Arrest
On July 7, the victim received a text demanding $1,200 for the necklace’s return. He agreed to meet Walker the next day, but after several back-and-forth attempts and Walker insisting on partial payment first, communication stopped. That’s when detectives secured the warrant.
The Fugitive Apprehension Unit worked with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, discovering Walker was already in custody there on unrelated charges. The necklace was recovered when he was arrested.
Sheriff Rick Staly commented on the case, noting the victim believed he was making a legitimate deal, unaware Walker intended to steal the jewelry and extort him for its return. Staly pointed to the department’s safe exchange zones, monitored by cameras at the Palm Coast District 2 office and the Sheriff’s Operations Center in Bunnell.
Walker has a lengthy criminal record, including past arrests for burglary, grand theft, fleeing and eluding, narcotics possession, aggravated battery, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and domestic battery by strangulation. He remains in Duval County custody and will face the Flagler County charges once those proceedings wrap up.
Readers reacted strongly to the story. Sunshine Red wrote,
“I’m over here trying to figure out why the seller let him put a $7,000 necklace on his neck before he gave him the whole amount.”
Joe DeSouza suggested designated, camera-monitored parking spots at sheriff’s offices for these kinds of exchanges, calling it a likely deterrent. Cara Haren noted it was telling that Walker was already in jail on unrelated charges when the warrant caught up with him.
