This podcast details true crime cases.

It contains adult themes and may contain descriptions of violence.

This episode contains explicit language.

It is not intended for children.

Listener discretion is advised.

Thank you for joining me for today's episode of Once Upon a Crime.

We're in this series Murder in Paradise, where I'm sharing stories of tragedies

that struck in locations where you least expected.

Beautiful locations, vacation spots, and island paradises, unfortunately, aren't exempt

from murder, as we'll see once again in this week's story.

There are people who sail away, literally, from the hustle and bustle of the world to find their own private paradise.

Some purchase or build their own boats, and then set out for days, weeks, and even months at a time to explore exotic ports of call.

Living this way can be a wonderful adventure, but it can also be fraught with challenges

and even dangers. This is the story of two couples, one with years of sailing experience

behind them, and one who were novices and on the run from the law. The worlds would collide

in a place each hoped would be their private paradise. And I'm sure you can guess

it would not end well. This is Chapter 4. Murder on Palmyra. May 1974, Buck Duane Walker was

repairing his 30-foot wooden sailboat to make the 1,000-mile trip from Maui to the Palmyra

Atoll. Looking at the boat, most would consider him a madman to even consider taking such a voyage.

The vessel, originally named the Margaret, had seen better days. Walker had purchased it four

months earlier for $2,200. It had sat on wooden blocks for over two years.

Its mast had been snapped off and needed to be replaced. The previous owners had attempted to

...