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FBI: Alleged missing child hoaxer was tipster
(CNN) -- A woman accused of calling an Indiana family and falsely claiming she was their long-lost daughter, was a regular tipster to an FBI office in Oregon, according to an FBI spokeswoman. While not an official FBI informant, Donna Walker, 35, called the Portland field office of the FBI regularly over the 18 months, FBI spokeswoman Beth Anne Steele said Saturday. "The agents who dealt with these phone calls were very familiar with her and took everything with a grain of salt," Steele said, without explaining why they were skeptical. Steele would not say for what cases Walker provided tips, and she would not reveal whether any of Walker's information was helpful to the bureau. "It was always on her own initiative" that Walker called the FBI, Steele said. Walker also made phone calls to other law enforcement agencies all over the country, Steele said, though it was unclear which agencies she called. The FBI in Washington did not return a phone call seeking comment Saturday. Walker is charged with being a fugitive from justice, based on a felony warrant from Boone County, Indiana, on a charge of identity deception. She also faces a false reporting charge. A judge in Topeka, Kansas, Friday set bond at $100,000 for Walker, who is said to have a history of mental problems. Shawnee County District Court Judge Thomas Conklin told Walker that she must take medication prescribed by her doctors and not use telephones, illegal drugs or alcohol as conditions of her bond. In addition, Walker is under a curfew and must agree to wear an electronic tracking bracelet on her ankle, the judge said. Walker has also been charged before with making similar threats, he said, though she was convicted just once for a "false fire alarm." Walker's lawyer, Bill Rork, told CNN his client has suffered from multiple-personality disorder. Prior to surrendering, Walker told a reporter: "My only intention was to help the investigation and certainly not hinder it in any way." She added that she was not guilty of any of the charges. Walker is alleged to have said she might be Shannon Marie Sherrill, who was kidnapped while playing outside her Indiana home in 1986 when she was six years old, police said. Walker may have also given false information to police in six other cases, police said. Conklin set Walker's next hearing for 10 a.m. on August 6. "Great," said Shannon's father, Mike Sherrill, when told last week that Walker was in jail. When told of reports that she had apologized, he said, "Sorry isn't good enough." Sherrill said the only good thing to come out of the incident was that it generated national attention which could help to find his daughter. The hoax has "emotionally, physically and mentally exhausted the immediate and extended family of Shannon Sherrill," Indiana State Police 1st Sgt. Dave Bursten said Wednesday at a news conference. Bursten accused Walker of not only calling the parents but also telephoning members of the news media so the story would get more publicity. The motive behind the hoax was unclear, authorities said, pointing out that Walker never made any demands to police or family members. But they also said without elaboration that Walker has a history of carrying out similar hoaxes in the Virginia Beach, Virginia, area. Walker allegedly first contacted Dorothy Sherrill on July 25. She then called Mike Sherrill the next day. Authorities said she used three different names and three different voices in various phone calls to help corroborate her story. The phone calls were all made from the Midwest to western United States, authorities said.
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