McDonald’s Worker to Receive $110,000 Reward for Leading Police to Alleged Serial Killer

A McDonald’s manager in Tampa, Florida, will receive a $110,000 reward for leading police to an alleged serial killer even though she did not report the crime through the city’s tip line, officials said.

Tampa Police Chief Brian Dugan told reporters at a press conference Friday that the employee, Delonda Walker, would receive “every penny” of her reward for sending a tip to police leading to the arrest of a man accused of carrying out four murders, according to USA Today.

“She will receive all $110,000,” Dugan told reporters.

The New York Post reports that Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay initially told Walker that they would not pay her the $5,000 bounty they promised her because she did not report the crime through traditional channels.

Officials told her she would only be eligible for the reward if she called the 1-800 number or submitted a tip online, WFTS reports. They reversed their decision after receiving backlash from the community.

The suspect, Howell Donaldson, 24, worked for Walker at McDonald’s.

Donaldson gave Walker a bag of food containing the gun he allegedly used to murder four people from October 9 to November 17. She then turned over the loaded gun to police, which led to his arrest.

Police charged Donaldson, who is being held without bond, with four counts of first-degree murder.

Walker said in a statement that she never expected to receive a reward and that she just “wanted to do the right thing.”

“When confronted with this situation, I wanted to do the right thing and I reached out to a nearby police officer. Receiving a reward never entered my mind,” she said in a statement. “Looking back, I am grateful to know I was helpful in assisting law enforcement . . . Please know I appreciate all the well wishes and the kind words of our community.”