Edward Alger Jr. was murdered on July 22, 1987, in Okaloosa County, Florida. He and Ann Peterson were found dead in their mobile home in Ocean City after an intruder, later identified as Frank Athen Walls, entered intent on burglary. Alger reportedly freed himself, attacked Walls, and was then killed when Walls cut his throat and shot him in the head multiple times.

Walls was arrested on July 24, 1987, and charged with multiple counts of first-degree murder and burglary. He was linked to other killings in the area between 1985 and 1987, including the murders of Audrey Gygi, Tommie Lou Whiddon, and Cynthia Sue Condra. The case resulted in a conviction and a death sentence in 1988; appeals challenging that sentence on grounds including intellectual disability have been filed and rejected by the Florida Supreme Court.