In the late 20th century, every Dallas churchgoer confessed their sins to Pastor Walker Railey. He led one of the city’s largest congregations—the First United Methodist Church. For years, he enjoyed the community’s trust and knew each member’s secrets. But a shocking tragedy shattered that image: Railey became the prime suspect in an attempt on his own wife’s life. Read more at dallaski.
The case sent shockwaves far beyond Dallas. No one could imagine that a spiritual leader, admired by thousands, could face criminal charges.
Biography of Walker Railey
Walker Railey was born on June 25, 1947, in Owensboro, Kentucky. He was the oldest of three children of Chester and Virginia Railey. Though his father worked as a foundry metalworker, the family struggled financially. Most of their income went to alcohol, and both parents battled severe alcoholism. This upbringing likely drove Walker to reject any harmful habits.
His religious calling emerged at the University of Western Kentucky. At 17, he wrote and delivered his first sermon. He then studied theology for a year at Vanderbilt’s divinity school before moving to Dallas. There, he attended Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University, where he met his future wife, Margaret “Peggy” Ellen, a music student.
Charismatic Leader of a Dallas Church
In 1980, Railey was appointed senior pastor at the First United Methodist Church of Dallas after serving as an associate pastor. Parishioners admired his leadership and elevated him to lead the congregation.
On the surface, Railey seemed unassuming—short, bald, and older than he looked. But his stirring sermons, especially his strong stance against racism, won him widespread support. His outspokenness drew death threats from white supremacists, and at major services he sometimes wore a bulletproof vest for protection. In 1984, he led the Northern Texas Conference delegation at the four-year global session of the United Methodist Church.
As senior pastor, he earned $100,000 a year—a hefty sum for the time. Combined with his clean lifestyle and devout faith, the community believed his wife was “the luckiest woman alive”—until that fateful night.
Attempt on Peggy Railey
On April 22, 1987, late at night, Railey called police and said he had found Peggy unconscious on the garage floor. First responders rushed her to a Dallas hospital. Doctors discovered her neck was fractured and her brain had suffered severe hypoxia. She experienced convulsions and dark bruising. For five days, doctors held out hope for recovery, but Peggy remained fully aware yet unable to move or speak.
The community reacted in disbelief. Many suspected enemies of Railey—those opposed to his views on civil rights, gender equality, or abortion—were responsible. The day after the attack, hundreds gathered outside the hospital to pray. Though private, Peggy had been well-liked by parishioners. She had given up her musical career dreams to marry Railey and raise their two children: 5-year-old Ryan and 2-year-old Megan. Recently, she had missed services. Parishioners assumed she was still recovering from pneumonia. Peggy herself said she was simply exhausted from caring for her young children.
Pastor Walker Railey: The Prime Suspect
Dallas police interviewed Railey as soon as they arrived. He claimed he had spent the evening in a library researching a biography. But librarians and a convenience-store clerk placed him elsewhere, and his timeline didn’t add up. Railey blamed his “no-watch habit”—he never wore a watch under his vestments—but officers grew suspicious.
Investigators also uncovered Railey’s affair with a woman he spent 40 minutes with on the night of the attack. These revelations made parishioners question his innocence. Distraught by the public fallout, Railey attempted suicide in the hospital room next to his wife, taking a handful of pills and leaving a note: “No one knows the demons that live inside me.”
It wasn’t until 1992, when DNA tests confirmed his involvement, that Railey was officially named the prime suspect.
Shattered Lives
The trial began on March 23, 1993, and all eyes in Texas were on the courtroom. For six years, parishioners debated whether their pastor was a victim of circumstance or a monster who ruined a quiet woman’s life and robbed two children of their mother.
A jury of seven women and three men—all seasoned attorneys—eventually found Railey not guilty on all counts. But the verdict did nothing to restore his reputation. He lost his congregation’s faith forever. In 1996, he divorced Peggy and married Donna Berry.
Peggy spent the rest of her life in a nursing home, unable to move or speak. She watched her children grow up without her voice. On December 25, 2011, at age 63, Peggy Railey died in a Texas nursing home, never revealing what happened that tragic night.