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Alleged Prostitute Charged With Killing Brother Rice Teacher to Stand Trial

By Erica Demarest | January 11, 2016 6:17am
 Alisha Walker (r.) is charged with murdering longtime Brother Rice teacher Al Filan (l.) in 2014.
Alisha Walker (r.) is charged with murdering longtime Brother Rice teacher Al Filan (l.) in 2014.
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Brother Rice High School; Cook County Sheriff's Office

COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — The woman accused of murdering longtime Brother Rice teacher Al Filan will face a jury this week.

Alisha Walker, 22, was charged with murder after Filan was found dead inside his suburban Orland Park apartment in January 2014. Filan, who taught at the all-boys Catholic high school for nearly 40 years, had been stabbed at least 13 times.

According to prosecutors, Walker worked as a prostitute. She and Filan arranged a sexual encounter through BackPage.com and argued over money when they met up on Jan. 18, 2014.

Walker told police that Filan, 61, grabbed a knife during a struggle, authorities said. Walker then wrestled the knife away from Filan, prosecutors said, and stabbed him with it.

According to authorities, Walker admitted to killing Filan and fleeing his home. Her defense attorney, Patrick O'Byrne, is expected to argue self-defense as the trial begins this week.

Jury selection is slated for Monday, and the trial should commence Tuesday morning.

Walker has been in the Cook County Jail since Jan. 30, 2014, when a judge ordered her held without bail. Court records place Walker's home address in Akron, Ohio, and the judge claimed she might be a flight risk.

Walker was previously convicted of prostitution in March, April and August 2012, court records show. She was sentenced to four months court supervision in each of the earlier convictions, and one day in county lockup for the August conviction.

Walker also has a pending drug case.

After Filan's death, Brother Rice officials issued a statement calling Filan "an outstanding teacher who served Brother Rice High School with pride and dedication for almost forty years."

"Although there have been allegations in the press concerning Al's personal life," the statement continued, "we would hope that everyone will remember him for the good that he did, and ask God to look with mercy and favor upon him."

Brother Rice is at 10001 S. Pulaski Road in Mount Greenwood.

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