Posted on 09/28/2005 9:23:07 AM PDT by rw4site
9/27/05-KLTV Tyler,TX
Bogus Story Of Supposed Katrina Victim Exposed
Link to Bogus Story Of Supposed Katrina Victim Exposed
It was a heartbreaking story that he says had east Texans generously giving him money, shelter and supplies.
But as KLTV 7's Christine Nelson investigates, the story he told us and the volunteers who have helped him is all a Lie.
Shelter volunteers across east Texas have heard first hand devastating stories of how hurricane Katrina tore families apart.
However, there was none like the one that was brought to our attention from volunteers at the Smith County Chapter of the American Red Cross.
The story was told by Ray Johnson. In an interview with KLTV 7 he described how he tried to get his wife and three year old son to the attic to safety when New Orleans floodwaters came rushing in.
"I didn't ever think I was going to lose my son and wife no never... no. A gush of water hit me in my chest and I lost my balance for about three seconds and when I did my son went over the back of my neck and over my wife's head and into the water. I turned around and I seen my wife go under. When I got to her I went under and I picked her feet up to hurl her up and she fell over. And she was floating so I knew she was dead," said Johnson.
Ray goes on to say he pulled his wife and son's lifeless bodies to the attic, where he covered them up with sheets.
He claims he got his strength to go with the help of God. However, he also got strength from East Texas volunteers, touched by this man's traumatic loss.
Like other evacuees he was taken in at First Christian Church in Tyler where for about two weeks he was provided, clothes and a shoulder to cry on.
Other volunteers we're told are letting him stay at their place until he gets back on his feet.
Churches were also helping him arrange his wife's and son's funeral here in Tyler.
One east Texas good Samaritans told us Johnson said it was doing to be a very long and that he was going to have a guitar player and a pianist and songs picked out.
Burks Walker Tippit funeral home was donating the materials and services for the funeral; a package worth about six to seven thousand dollars.
But things began looking terrible wrong when we received a call from the TExas Board of Pardons and Paroles. Officials there told us "Ray Johnson" is not who he says he is. They informed us that he was sentenced to jail or on parole from 1998 to 2004, making Ray's clams that he lived in New Orleans since 2001 False.
An email we received from his sister in law confirmed it.
Patty Writes: "This man's real name is Walter Ray Stall, he is from Palestine TX, he has never lived in La & he did not lose a wife or son in Katrina. He fabricated this entire story for what I believe was monetary gain or whatever he could get from this tragedy. I know because he is my brother in law, he is a habitual liar & a criminal. If he is receiving anything from anybody because of this fabricated story that should be a crime in itself."
We also spoke to the mother of the supposed "Ray Johnson" and she confirmed he is really "Walter Ray Stall'. And that he never lived in new Orleans. She tells us she is raising Walter's two kids in Palestine and he is estranged from his real wife.
On September 28th the man who calls himself "Ray Johnson" came by our studios for a follow up interview and again goes into the generosity he's received from East Texans.
Here is a quote from the man claiming to be Ray Johnson, "The man that's here with me, he's helped me. A couple other people has helped me. I'm waiting on FEMA to give me their part, because the president said you're entitled to 2000 dollars. And that check has beenmailed."
It was then time to confront Walter Stall about what we discovered. First we showed him a mug shot from an arrest in Tarrant County.
When we asked him if it was him he said, "I guess it is. But it's not true."
Then we handed him copies of his past arrest including the one that kept him in jail or on parole through 2004, years he claims he lived in New Orleans.
Here is a transcript of his response: "This is not true... this is not true... (Christine: It includes injury to a child ) Yes, that's the only thing that I've had in my criminal record, was injury to a child." ( Christine: All this information we're getting is public record. Straight from the Texas board of pardons and paroles. I don't understand why that information wouldn't be correct ) "I... i.... i have no idea."
After the interview, Sheriff's deputies moved in to arrest "Walter Stall on outstanding criminal warrants out of Anderson County for theft of a firearm and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
It didn't stop Walter Stall from continuing his story...
Sheriff: are you Walter's stall.
Walter Stall: No sir I'm ray Johnson....
As this is a shock to us, it's safe to say it's just the same for the people who've helped "Water Stall" recover from this bogus tragedy.
Christine Nelson, reporting. cnelson@kltv.com
The Original Story
9/21/05-KLTV Tyler,TX
Katrina Evacuee Shares Story Of Losing Wife, Son In Hurricane
Link to Katrina Evacuee Shares Story Of Losing Wife, Son In Hurricane
Ray Johnson met and married his wife, Cindy, 4 1/2 years ago, in what is described as a whirlwind romance. "She would come by three times a day and kiss me on my cheek and just walk off. I said this lady is in love with me for some reason," says Ray smiling. Together they had a baby boy, Ray Jr. But soon the senior Ray would battle the toughest demon of his life...her name was Katrina.
"I didn't ever think I was going to lose my son and wife, no, never," says Ray shaking his head. The storm bowled over Ray's home in Jefferson Parish, but it was the breached levees that caused the waters to go from six inches deep to chest high. Ray describes how he tried to get his family to the attic to safety with his three-year-old son on his shoulders. "
A gush of water hit me in my chest and I lost my balance for about three seconds and when I did my son went over the back of my neck and over my wife's head and into the water. I turned around and I saw my wife go under. When I got to her I went under and I picked her feet up to hurl her up and she fell over. She was floating so I knew she was dead," Ray recalls. He had to pull his wife and son's lifeless bodies to the attic, where he covered them up with sheets. Ray got the courage to swim through contaminated waters to higher ground. A trucker graciously bought him dry clothes and drove him to East Texas. Not only did he find shelter at First Christian Church in Tyler, but he also found comfort that only a higher being can provide. "How am i holding up? With God. For the first two weeks, I broke down everyday, three, four, five, ten times a day. I got my strength from God," says Ray. It's with that strength Ray will start a new life in East Texas, as soon as he closes the most difficult chapter in his life in New Orleans.
Ray's wife and son will be flown to Tyler where they will be laid to rest next Tuesday. He says he will never forget the friends he's made in Tyler who helped him through this difficult time.
Christine Nelson, reporting. cnelson@kltv.com
Broadband users can view both videos at provided links.
Get a rope.
Unfortunately there are always people who take advantage of these types of situations where confusion, pity, and good intentions are fertile ground for deception.
This just confirms my worst suspicions. Nothing good ever comes from Palestine! :)
Palestine Tx is the home of Adrian Peterson, OU star running back. Just thought I'd throw that out there!
Yea... but he got out as soon as he could, eh? lol
What a freakin' dirtbag.
Ahh, ya doesn't has to call me Johnson! You can call me Ray, or you can call me Jay, or you can call me Johnny or you can call me Sonny, or you can call me RayJay, or you can call me RJ... but ya doesn't hafta call me Johnson
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