Waiser Walter, 35, pleaded guilty on January 23, 2026, to second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder for the October 2016 Honolulu stabbing death of 4-year-old Jeremiah Roke and the severe wounding of the boy’s aunt, Imaculata Roke. Walter, who lived with Roke as her adopted brother, faces up to life in prison with sentencing set for February.​
Case Background
The attack left Jeremiah with fatal chest stab wounds and Roke with life-threatening back injuries. After prior legal battles—including a 2020 guilty plea that Hawaii’s Supreme Court vacated in 2025 due to issues like lack of counsel colloquy and mental health defense concerns—Walter entered this new plea, sparing a retrial.
Prosecutor’s Statement
Honolulu Prosecutor Steve Alm called it one of the community’s most heartbreaking violence cases, noting the plea ensures accountability without forcing Roke to relive trauma in court. He vows to seek maximum penalties to honor Jeremiah’s life and protect Oahu residents.​
Legal Outcome
This resolves a decade-long saga; Walter was previously sentenced to life with parole possibility before the reversal. No trial means focus shifts to sentencing, where life terms remain possible under Hawaii law for these charges.
