Deputies seek assailants of man called 'the walker'

The well-known character was flown to a hospital with serious injuries.

By CHANDRA BROADWATER, Times staff writer
Published September 21, 2007

ADVERTISEMENT [Hernando County Sheriff's Office] John Kelly, 48, says injuries in a bike wreck require him to walk to strengthen his legs.

SPRING HILL - Just as he always does, 48-year-old John Kelly moved at his brisk pace Wednesday night.

Known as "the walker" by Hernando drivers who passed him for years in their cars, Kelly chugged as usual along the north side of Cortez Boulevard on the way home to his modest trailer in Weeki Wachee. It was just after 11 p.m.

With his trusty black backpack, always on his back, he also wore his orange and yellow reflective vest to help the drivers flying by see him.

But as he neared the Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative building near the U.S. 19 intersection, a number of people jumped him. They hit him in the head with an unknown object and stole his backpack and wallet, according to the Hernando County Sheriff's Office. Then they left him on the side of the road, bleeding.

Picking himself up, Kelly staggered to the nearby Hernando County Fire Rescue Station 12 on Ovenbird Road for help. His head wounds were so severe that a helicopter flew him to St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa. His condition was not available Thursday, said hospital spokesman Will Darnall.

Police have no suspects and Hernando detectives said Thursday they need the public's help. Did anyone driving by at that time of night see the attack? Did they see a suspicious vehicle parked in the area? Or suspicious people?

Anyone with information can contact Detective Jeff Kraft, major crimes unit, 754-6830 or, to remain anonymous, call Hernando County Crime Stoppers at 797-TIPS 8477. Callers may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.

Victor Pike and Kelly's other neighbors hope justice is served. Their jaws dropped when they heard about what happened to their eccentric neighbor.

Pike described Kelly as a gentle, smart man who walks at least 20 miles a day to keep up the circulation in his legs. The gray-bearded walker always refuses a ride and hates cars.

"He says that if he doesn't walk so many miles, the doctors will have to cut his legs off," Pike said. "He was riding a bicycle in New York years ago when a car hit him. Twice. After hitting him initially, the driver apparently backed over him to finish him off."

Pike said Kelly, who lives on disability, walked almost every day to the Little Caesar's pizza shop a couple of miles away. Then he walks home, usually with pizza box in hand, talking to himself.

Kelly has no way to cook in his home, which is located at the end of the street in a lot with an assortment of old boats and cars on the overgrown front lawn.

His neighbors said he's lived in his gray trailer for nearly 10 years, earning a reputation as Hernando's own Forrest Gump.

When he's not heading out to eat, sometimes Kelly walks to County Line Road, almost 10 miles away. Or he'll trek through the roadside grass over to Wiscon Road in Brooksville, or to Hernando Beach with his fishing pole.

Kelly has racked up as many as 50 miles in a day.

Weeki Wachee Springs spokesman John Athanason said employees see Kelly walking past the mermaid attraction all the time. He recalled when Kelly helped return an attraction walkie-talkie a maintenance guy left at the CVS store at the corner of U.S. 19 and Cortez Boulevard.

"The next thing we knew, there was this guy saying over our radios, 'Look, I have a radio here. I want no problems, I found it and I just want to turn it in. I'm over by the library,'" Athanason said. "He's like a local celebrity. Every time I see him, I always wonder what his story is."

Occasionally, exhaustion has led Kelly to succumb to a ride from a relative who also lives in Weeki Wachee. The relative could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Lately, Pike said Kelly had been pondering how to get rid of the cockroaches in his trailer without killing them.

"The other day he asked me if there was any kind of bug that would eat the roaches," Pike said.

"He doesn't hurt anything and doesn't bother anyone. He likes to talk about things like your yard and the atmosphere. And if he can't kill a roach, then I can't imagine that he would have fought back to hurt a human. What happened to him makes me sick."

Chandra Broadwater can be reached at cbroadwater@sptimes.com or (352) 848-1432.

Fast facts

Have information?

Anyone with any information regarding the attack on local walker John Kelly, can contact the Hernando County Sheriff's Office at (352) 754-6830. Or if you wish to remain anonymous, call the Hernando County Crime Stoppers Hot line at (352) 797-8477 or send e-mail at www.hernandosheriff.org/Tips. A reward up to $1,000 is available.

[Last modified September 20, 2007, 22:08:59]