A man charged with murder in Madison County Thursday has ties to several Alabama Republican campaigns and organizations.

According to the sheriff’s office, deputies received a call reporting a dead man at 1790 Capshaw Road in the Harvest community.

The man, later identified as Derek Franklin Walls, 54, of Harvest, was found inside a residence.

Detectives have arrested and charged Kyle Hayden Lewter, 36, with murder.

Brent Patterson, spokesman for the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, said the case is not tied to Lewter’s political activity.

“The factual circumstances of this death investigation are not related to any political activities that Mr. Lewter was engaged in,” Patterson said.

Investigators believe a physical altercation between the two, who knew each other, led to Walls’ death.

Lewter, in a 2017 interview, said he had done campaign work for former U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks and former U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions.

A social media post from 2022 identifies him as the chairman of Madison County Young Republicans.

WHNT is reporting that Lewter had a paid position with Alabama State Sen. Tom Butler. Attempts to reach Butler’s office for comment were not immediately successful.

Lewter was taken to Madison County Jail to be held without bond until an Aniah’s Law hearing.