Lawyer in missing-girl case vows extradition fight

? Despite two adverse court decisions in as many days, a defense attorney promised Wednesday to keep fighting an attempt to extradite a Topeka woman to Indiana to face charges that she posed as a couple’s long-missing daughter.

Billy Rork said he planned to take Donna Lynette Walker’s case to the Kansas Supreme Court a second time. On Wednesday, the court denied a bail request from Walker, who has remained in the Shawnee County Jail since July 31.

The Supreme Court’s decision followed Tuesday’s decision by Shawnee County Judge Nancy Parrish that Walker’s extradition to Indiana could advance. Walker, 35, Topeka, is charged in Indiana with felony identity deception and misdemeanor false reporting.

Rork said he would appeal Parrish’s order to the Kansas Supreme Court — then raise the question of allowing bail while her appeal was pending. Walker has had requests for bail rejected five times.

In addition, Rork said he would press Parrish to force the jail to provide proper mental health services for Walker, or have Walker sent to a state hospital for such services. He said if Parrish did not, he would raise that issue with the Supreme Court.

Rork also suggested he could file a lawsuit in federal court if state courts ultimately refused to block Walker’s extradition.

“Indiana can wait,” Rork said.

Walker is accused by authorities in Boone County, Ind., of posing as Shannon Marie Sherrill, who was 6 when she disappeared in 1986. Authorities said Walker used different names and voices to pull a hoax on the girl’s parents and police in July.

The case gained national attention after a televised press conference during which Shannon’s father, William Michael Sherrill, broke down in tears upon being told Walker’s claims were a hoax.

In Indiana, Boone County Prosecutor Todd Meyer did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.

Initially, Kansas Atty. Gen. Phill Kline’s office saw Parrish’s ruling Tuesday as clearing the way for Walker’s extradition. Kline’s office is representing Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, who signed the extradition warrant for Walker.

But on Wednesday, Kline spokesman Chad Bettes said: “People have rights to appeals, and there are appellate options that can delay an extradition.”

Rork has said Indiana authorities had improperly charged Walker because she did not intentionally try to deceive the missing girl’s parents or police. Rork contends his client is mentally ill and thought there was a possibility she was Shannon Sherrill.