Walter Boyuk Pleads Guilty to Involuntary Manslaughter in Deadly 2020 Shooting of His Wife, Kathleen

Posted on 3/15/2023

Defendant: Walter Boyuk

Walter Boyuk pled guilty today, March 13, to involuntary manslaughter with a 3-year firearm specification and tampering with evidence in the shooting that killed his wife, Kathleen Boyuk. Walter and Kathleen were married for more than 50 years.

Walter, 79, of Hilliard, was immediately sentenced to 16 years in prison by Franklin County Court of Common Pleas Judge Michael Holbrook. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Walter agreed not to file for judicial release.

On Oct. 22, 2020, Walter shot and killed Kathleen at Griggs Reservoir. He staged the crime scene to appear as if there had been a robbery. However, ballistic evidence at the crime scene, cell phone evidence, and inconsistency in his statements to family members and law enforcement led to his arrest that same day by the Columbus Division of Police.

This plea agreement was entered into and agreed upon in accordance with the wishes of Kathleen’s family members, who wanted to avoid the publicity and re-traumatization that a jury trial would have caused. Family members also noted Walter will be almost 94 years old when he is released from prison.

Daniel Lenert and Thomas Vaccaro, both assistant prosecuting attorneys with the Franklin County Prosecutor’s office, prosecuted this case.