A Central Texas man is being held in Bell County Jail for the killing of 11-year-old Zoey Rene Walls, who died July 2, 2023.
On Thursday, June 12, 2025, the Bell County Sheriff’s Violent Crimes Apprehension Team located Joshua Glenn Walls, 44, of Killeen, Texas, and took him into police custody. The Bell County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) has charged Walls with Criminally Negligent Homicide.
According to BCSO, officers were dispatched to Stillhouse Hollow Lake at 7:58 p.m. on Sunday, July 2, 2023, along with the Central Bell County Fire Department, AMR Ambulance, US Corps of Engineers Parks Rangers, and Texas Parks and Wildlife Game Wardens, in response to a boat crash.
The BCSO discovered that Zoey Walls was hit by a boat.
The inquiry discovered that Zoey Walls was at the lake with her father, Joshua Walls, riding on a tube towed by a family boat when she slipped into the water.
According to law enforcement, Zoey Walls was hit by the boat and sustained critical injuries while Joshua Walls attempted to pull her out of the water. A bystander reportedly heard the family’s cry for help and responded. The witness took Zoey Walls to the Stillhouse Hollow Marina at 4596 Simmons Road in Bell County, Texas, where she waited for first responders.
Justice of the Peace Nicola J. James declared the subject dead and ordered an autopsy to be done at the Dallas County Medical Examiner’s Office.
On Wednesday, June 11, 2025, the Bell County Sheriff’s Criminal Investigations Division presented information before the Bell County Grand Jury about Zoey Walls’ death.
According to the BCSO, Joshua Walls has been indicted for Criminally Negligent Homicide.
On Thursday, June 12, 2025, Joshua Walls was arrested and put into the Bell County Jail. Justice of the Peace Cliff Coleman placed the bond at $50,000.
Reference: Bell County man indicted in boating accident that left 11-year-old girl dead