Who Is Hannah Petty on 48 Hours? Everything You Need to Know
While Petty’s trial testimony detailed the months of stalking, the breakthrough that secured Gaul’s arrest came through two other Maryville College friends, Alex McCarty and Noah Walton. Suspicious of Gaul’s increasingly erratic behavior following the murder, the two young men cooperated directly with Knox County Sheriff’s Office detectives.
Gaul approached McCarty and Walton seeking help to dispose of a stolen .9-millimeter Glock handgun, which he had taken from his grandfather’s vehicle without permission. Gaul insisted that he needed to throw the weapon into the Tennessee River or bury it in the woods to prevent police from falsely implicating him. Working in tandem with undercover officers, McCarty and Walton wore hidden audio and video recording devices while accompanying Gaul to an apartment complex parking lot. Detectives moved in and arrested Gaul red-handed on November 22, 2016, recovering the firearm, black gloves, duct tape, and dark clothing from his vehicle.
| Date | Event & Investigation Development | Evidentiary Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 18, 19, 2016 | Staged abduction and threatening anonymous texts sent to Walker | Established Gaul's premeditated psychological harassment campaign |
| Nov 21, 2016 | Emma Walker fatally shot in her bedroom through exterior wall | Crime scene ballistics confirmed two shots from outside the residence |
| Nov 22, 2016 | Gaul arrested during undercover sting while attempting gun disposal | Recovered grandfather's .9mm Glock matching murder scene casings |
| May 8, 2018 | Jury finds William Riley Gaul guilty of first-degree murder | Mandatory life sentence imposed; consecutive terms added for stalking |