Buddy Walthers

Eddie Raymond “Buddy” Walthers (July 17, 1928 – January 10, 1969), was a Deputy Sheriff who played a prominent role in the investigation of Lee Harvey Oswald following the murder of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963. He was killed in the line of duty on January 10, 1969 by an escaped convict.

Assassination of John F. Kennedy
On November 22, 1963, after John F. Kennedy was shot, Walthers approached James Tague and told Tague about specks of blood on his right cheek. He was later involved in the investigation of Lee Harvey Oswald and the Trial of Clay Shaw.

Murder
Walthers was shot and killed on January 10, 1969 while he and Deputy Alvin Maddox Jr. (August 8, 1930 – September 5, 2013) attempted to arrest escaped Georgia convict James Walter Cherry (April 13, 1926 – December 6, 1981). The two deputies had entered the suspect's motel room and had allowed Cherry and his female companion Twyna Blankenship to get dressed. As they did so the suspect produced a .38 caliber revolver and opened fire. During the ensuing struggle, Walthers was fatally shot in the chest and Maddox was shot in the hand and left foot. Maddox was able to return fire and wound the suspect in the thigh and chest. Both the suspect and the woman were arrested about three hours later. Cherry was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to death. His sentence was later commuted to life. He died in prison on December 6, 1981.

Family
Walthers was survived by his wife, Dorothy Janice Robinson (March 2, 1925 – April 4, 2017), and their three children.