Walter David Bell Jr., 54, was found dead in the early morning of March 3, 2022, in a pizza shop parking lot in East Frankfort, Kentucky. A paramedic discovered him unresponsive beside his black Jeep, which was parked unevenly in a handicapped spot. He had sustained a single gunshot wound to the left side of his chest and was pronounced dead after attempts to revive him at Frankfort Regional Medical Center.

Investigators quickly focused on a family member after learning of a heated text exchange the day before between Bell and his son, Camden Bell, who reportedly called his father a liar. Bell’s wife, Jo Ann Bell, told authorities their son had dropped her off at work that morning.

Camden Bell was arrested and charged with his father’s murder and with being a convicted felon in possession of a handgun; a psychiatric evaluation found him competent to stand trial. If anyone knew Walter, Camden, or saw the parking lot that morning, please come forward with information.