State police investigating death of Mathews County commonwealth’s attorney

Mathews County Commonwealth’s Attorney T. Marie Walls was found dead at her home on Feb. 10, Virginia State Police confirmed.  

According to a news release from the state police, Walls, who served as Mathews County’s top prosecutor since January 2024, died of “an apparent gunshot wound in the driveway of a residence.” 

The state police further said that at this time “there is no indication a suspect is involved” but the investigation remains ongoing. 

Walls’ campaign social media account confirmed her death in a statement on Facebook. 

“Marie was a dedicated public servant who committed her career to the pursuit of justice and the safety of our community,” Walls’ campaign team said in a statement. “Her leadership, integrity, and compassion made a lasting impact on our office and on the many lives she touched.” 

Walls was elected as Mathews County commonwealth’s attorney in 2023, earning 62.6% of the vote. She replaced longtime top prosecutor Tom C. Bowen III. 

Prior to her election, she worked for many years in the Suffolk commonwealth’s attorney’s office, rising to the rank of chief deputy commonwealth’s attorney. She left that office in 2020 and later served as chief deputy commonwealth’s attorney in Gloucester. 

A Williamsburg native, Walls began her career on the Eastern Shore working with what is now the Legal Aid Society of Eastern Virginia, according to her online campaign bio. She also taught as a professor at Christopher Newport University and William & Mary Law School.  

Apart from her legal career, Walls also formerly worked as executive director of the child abuse program at the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters in Norfolk. 

In 2021, Virginia Lawyers Weekly named Walls as a member of that year’s class of Influential Women of Law honorees.