Brother of man killed by escaped Florida inmate arrested

Willie Slater Jr. nabbed in Orlando

ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando police on Monday arrested the brother of a man killed by Charles Walker, one of the inmates who escaped from a Florida prison, after police say he threatened Walker's relatives when Walker was on the run.

Willie Slater Jr., 36, was arrested in Orlando on an outstanding warrant and was booked into the Orange County Jail.

Slater's brother, Cedric Slater, was murdered 15 years ago by Walker.

"So what if you've got me painted as a criminal.  I still have feelings and emotions, too.  And that's my brother," Slater told Local 6 in a jailhouse interview on Monday.

Orlando police last week said when Walker was mistakenly  released from prison, Slater began making "serious and credible threats" to several of Walker's relatives, including his sister, who is married to Walker.

"OK.  I say on Facebook, I say 'murder is on my mind.'  I didn't say 'oh, I'm going to kill somebody.  That's what on my mind.' I did not say any of that," Slater said.

Slater said he believes the same people who mistakenly released Walker from prison also put him behind bars.

"It's like they looking for a fall guy for this case 'cause they let somebody out.  I didn't let him out of prison," said Slater.

Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Slater on aggravated stalking charges and threats to kill.  Slater was issued a violation of probation warrant because of the new charges.

Slater was on probation for a domestic violence conviction when police say he sent the threatening text messages to his sister.

Slater told Local 6 that after his brother-in-law, Walker, escaped from prison, he returned to Orlando and drove by several family members' homes to taunt them. Local 6 has not been able to independently confirm Slater's claim.


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