U.S. Marshals in Texas Arrest Missouri Fugitive Wanted for DWI Which Killed 3 Children

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. —The U.S. Marshals (USMS) in Waco, Texas, on Oct. 22 arrested a Missouri woman wanted on multiple felony charges, including the death of three of her children, following a motor vehicle accident in which she is alleged to have been driving while intoxicated.

Kaia Walls, 33, of Hayti was named in an arrest warrant out of New Madrid County, charging her with three counts of second-degree murder, first-degree assault, 13 counts of armed criminal action, three counts of DWI (Driving While Intoxicated)-death of a person, two counts of DWI-serious physical injury and four counts of endangering welfare of a child.

The charges stem from a Sept. 25 motor vehicle crash that occurred at approximately 9:10 p.m. on U.S. 61 about three miles north of Matthews when the SUV Walls was driving struck the rear of a pickup truck, causing the SUV to run off the road and overturn multiple times.

Walls received medical care and later fled Missouri. The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s investigation determined Walls was in the company of her father in Killeen, Texas, and contacted the USMS for further assistance. 

USMS in Cape Girardeau sent a lead to USMS in Waco, who arrested her without incident.

Walls will be extradited back to Missouri to face the charges against her. 

“I want to commend the Missouri State Highway Patrol on their investigation and allowing the Marshals to assist in this arrest,” said U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Missouri Steven Lewis. “Fugitives who actively evade capture or try to avoid responsibility for their crimes should know there is no place to hide. We will find you and bring you to justice.” 

The U.S. Marshals have a long history of aiding and providing expertise to other law enforcement agencies in support of fugitive investigations. The success of U.S. Marshals task force initiatives, combined with the outstanding relationships forged with other law enforcement agencies, has led to the formation of permanent fugitive task forces, as well as ad-hoc task forces in response to unique cases that pose immediate threat to the public. In 2025, U.S. Marshals Service-led fugitive task forces arrested over 73,000 federal, state and local fugitives and cleared nearly 88,000 warrants.