Sixteen-year-old Emma Walker was killed by a shot fired through her bedroom wall in Tennessee in 2016. Her former boyfriend Riley Gaul was prosecuted after investigators examined his conduct before and after the shooting. He was convicted of first-degree murder.
Content note: violence, abuse, or loss. Linked material may contain graphic descriptions. Screen dramatizations may change events and dialogue.
Knoxville, Tennessee. The map provides regional context; individually verified historical places are listed below.
Map sources checked September 14, 2026. No case-specific Odd Stops location was found in this review.
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Odd Stops
No verified match found. Source imagery is linked; only separately licensed photos are reproduced.
MurderData
No verified match found.
ArcGIS essay
Not included in this essay.
Reddit map
Reviewed as a general resource. Its coordinates and victim counts were not adopted as case evidence.
“No verified match” describes the accessible material found in this review, not proof that a source has never covered the case. MAP’s anonymous records were not individually matched to people.
Scripted stories and fictional inspirations. Scenes, characters, and dialogue can differ from the record.
No verified fictional adaptation or inspiration has been identified in this collection. Nonfiction coverage is listed in the other media sections.
01Books
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This section is awaiting its first entry.
New material will appear here after editorial review.
02Movies
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Watch links, previews, and historical title listings are identified below. Availability varies by service and region; rentals or subscriptions may be required.
A verified movie listing has not been added yet.
New material will appear here after editorial review.
03TV & documentaries
2 items
Watch links, previews, and historical title listings are identified below. Availability varies by service and region; rentals or subscriptions may be required.
abc.com
Bad Romance — Shot in the Dark (S1 E3)
Nonfiction screen coverage of this case. The linked page identifies the program or episode; playback, subscriptions, and regional availability vary.
Dateline: Secrets Uncovered — Noises in the Night (2021)
IMDb episode reference connected to the Emma Walker case. Listed release: 2021. Cast, credits, and title information; viewing availability is separate.
Original newspaper coverage, hosted by Newspapers.com. Read each article in the context of its publication date; later findings may differ. Full-page access may require sign-in.
Featured newspaper clipping
Read a featured clipping here, then explore more reporting in the newspaper archive.
The Knoxville News-Sentinel · 2016-11-24 · Page 1
Arrest made in Emma Walker's killing
Emma Walker's family remembers the high-school cheerleader as authorities charge her former boyfriend William Riley Gaul.
Charging-stage reporting; the story continues on another page.
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Case videos, posts, family pages, and creator communities. Creator channels and groups cover multiple cases; each includes a link to the relevant episode. Facebook or TikTok may require sign-in, and groups may require membership approval. Community opinions are separate from verified reporting.
Truly Criminal
A Tennessee Tragedy: The Murder Of Emma Walker
Video from Truly Criminal covering the Emma Walker case. Length: 29:02.
Outside blogs, personal essays, and creator write-ups. These reflect each author’s perspective. Check publication dates and compare claims with reporting and court records.
This section is awaiting its first entry.
New material will appear here after editorial review.
09Internet Archive
2 items
Individual records from Internet Archive: library books, historical broadcasts, and preserved web pages. A catalog listing does not guarantee free reading or full playback. Access, previews, and borrowing are controlled by Internet Archive.
Internet Archive · TV News Archive
20/20 : KGO : September 14, 2018 10:01pm-11:00pm PDT
The archive indexes this broadcast under Emma Walker. It may contain several stories; use any available captions or previews to locate the relevant segment. Full playback may be restricted.
Dateline : MSNBCW : October 4, 2020 10:00pm-11:00pm PDT
The archive indexes this broadcast under Emma Walker. It may contain several stories; use any available captions or previews to locate the relevant segment. Full playback may be restricted.
New material will appear here after editorial review.
11Court records & documents
1 items
Court opinions, filings, transcripts, and dockets, alongside clearly labeled parole records, released investigative files, and courtroom recordings. Each item identifies its source and scope. Allegations in filings are not findings of guilt. These selections are not complete case files. Where an online document could not be verified, a separate guide identifies the records office or archive to contact.
Court opinionArchive copy
State v. Gaul — Emma Walker murder appeal
A Tennessee appellate opinion reviewing William Riley Gaul’s prosecution for Emma Walker’s murder.
New material will appear here after editorial review.
13Where are they now?
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The latest information verified for this collection is listed below. Each source has its own date; these are not live custody records.
A current-status update has not been verified for this case yet.
New material will appear here after editorial review.
14Positive Outcome
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Documented laws, advocacy, and reforms connected to this case. Changes do not undo the harm, and listing a law does not claim that it is effective or universally supported.
No case-specific law, reform, or advocacy initiative has been verified for this collection yet. This does not mean that none exists.
New material will appear here after editorial review.
Emma Walker — media, court records & case files | Unforgotten Casebook
07Social Media
10 itemsCase videos, posts, family pages, and creator communities. Creator channels and groups cover multiple cases; each includes a link to the relevant episode. Facebook or TikTok may require sign-in, and groups may require membership approval. Community opinions are separate from verified reporting.
Truly Criminal
A Tennessee Tragedy: The Murder Of Emma Walker
Video from Truly Criminal covering the Emma Walker case. Length: 29:02.
Watch on YouTubeKendall Rae
Emma Walker: Tragically Murdered By Stalker Ex
Video from Kendall Rae covering the Emma Walker case. Length: 27:15.
Watch on YouTubeFilmRise True Crime
The Shocking Murders of Julia Rawson & Emma Walker | Killers Caught On Camera
Video from FilmRise True Crime covering the Emma Walker case. Length: 46:47.
Watch on YouTubeOxygen
Parents Find Emma Walker Dead—Who Shot Her in Her Childhood Bed? | Dateline Highlights | Oxygen
Episode recap or excerpt from Oxygen covering the Emma Walker case. Length: 5:05.
Watch on YouTubeChristina Randall
The Murder of High School Cheerleader Emma Walker | Young Toxic “Love”
Video from Christina Randall covering the Emma Walker case. Length: 27:23.
Watch on YouTubeWBIR Channel 10
Behind the Headline: The Emma Walker Case
Video from WBIR Channel 10 covering the Emma Walker case. Length: 44:24.
Watch on YouTubeWBIR Channel 10
Riley Gaul denied new trial in 2016 killing of ex-girlfriend Emma Walker
Video from WBIR Channel 10 covering the Emma Walker case. Length: 0:31.
Watch on YouTubeTrue Crime Recaps
Deadly High School Sweetheart: The Death of Emma Walker
Video from True Crime Recaps covering the Emma Walker case. Length: 18:50.
Watch on YouTubeTrue Crime Guys
#126 The Murder of Emma Walker
Video from True Crime Guys covering the Emma Walker case. Length: 1:09:26.
Watch on YouTubeMurder With My Husband
79. Emma Walker - The Kind Cheerleader
Video from Murder With My Husband covering the Emma Walker case. Length: 33:53.
Watch on YouTube