09:42 PM CDT on Saturday, July 22, 2006

By TIARA M. ELLIS / The Dallas Morning News

Hand out photo

Sarah Anne Walker was stabbed 27 times

McKinney police believe the person who stabbed a real estate professional to death this month removed a Rolex watch and silver ring from her body.

Sarah Anne Walker, 40, was found dead in a model home July 8; she had been stabbed 27 times. The stolen jewelry upgrades the slaying to a capital murder case, said McKinney police Capt. Randy Roland.

"We still don't believe robbery was the sole purpose of her murder," Capt. Roland said. "The charge upgrade doesn't change our investigative techniques, just the classification of the charge that the suspect would face."

The Rolex watch is described as a ladies' "Datejust" with a white face and Roman numerals on a gold- and silver-colored "Jubilee" band with a crown clasp. The ring is heavy silver with a dark stone.

Ms. Walker was wearing both the day of her slaying, based on video footage shot at a bank earlier that day, police said. Neither was found with her body or at her home.

Police revealed the jewelry lead because they have been unable to find either the watch or ring in pawnshops or by other methods.

"Investigators decided to release this information in hopes that somebody got a surprise gift out of the ordinary, or a pawnshop dealer didn't fill out the correct paperwork," Capt. Roland said.

Police hope news of the jewelry and the $30,000 reward in the case persuade someone to come forward.

Courtesy

McKinney police say a Rolex watch similar to this one was taken from Sarah Anne Walker.

A Plano couple discovered Ms. Walker's body two weeks ago in the kitchen of the model home in McKinney's Craig Ranch development. Since then, police have been inundated with media attention and countless tips, none of which has led to a suspect.

Searching Ms. Walker's Frisco home, police collected a Rolex box and receipt, according to the search warrant affidavit. Capt. Roland said the receipt shows that Ms. Walker purchased the watch the day before she died.

"No one knew she had it," Capt. Roland said. "We believe it was taken to throw investigators off the track of the real killer."

A capital murder is defined as a murder accompanied by another felony. It is punishable by life in prison or the death penalty.

Anyone with information about the Walker case can call McKinney police at 972-547-7600.

E-mail tellis@dallasnews.com