Spinner

Twisted Tales: Singer of 'The Cheater' Pays the Price for Wife's Infidelity

The St. Louis white R&B revue Bob Kuban and the In-Men had one big hit to their name: their 1966 single 'The Cheater.' A catchy, horn-driven blast of blue-eyed-soulish pop that made it to No. 12 on the charts, it featured the gruff, powerhouse lead vocals of Walter Scott, who in the band's cautionary tale warns listeners to "Look out for The Cheater/He's gonna build you up just to let you down." Little did Scott suspect that a couple of real-life cheaters, including one he shared a bed with, would be instrumental in letting him down -- into the cold, damp ground.

After his brief taste of stardom, Scott, whose real name was Walter Notheis, had settled into domestic life with his second wife, JoAnn. He had long ago departed from Kuban's combo to go solo and was still making a living of sorts singing in St. Louis-area clubs. But on December 27, 1983, Scott suddenly disappeared without a trace from his home, which was curious in itself, as he and Kuban had been planning a reunion concert for the coming year.

Approximately a year after Scott's disappearance, JoAnn Notheis, citing abandonment, filed for and received a divorce in absentia. Two years later, she got hitched to a neighbor, Jim Williams, who was also recently widowed: His wife, Sharon, had died in an auto accident around the same time that Scott went missing.

County police, egged on by Scott's suspicious parents, investigated his disappearance but could turn up nothing. But in April 1987, a gruesome discovery was made that brought life closer to art: Scott's decomposed body, with a gunshot in its back, was found floating in a cistern on Williams' property -- a cistern that, according to Jim's son, Williams had built a flower box over not long after Scott disappeared. With the finger pointing squarely at Jim and JoAnn's involvement, investigators exhumed the body of Sharon Williams and determined that she was most likely a victim of a homicide as well.

After authorities put the pieces of the case together, they charged Jim Williams with the murders of Sharon Williams and Walter Notheis, aka Walter Scott, and JoAnn Notheis Williams with the murder of Scott. A trial resulted in Jim's conviction, and he is currently serving two life terms. However, JoAnn pleaded guilty to a lesser charge and received a sentence of five years' imprisonment for her role in Scott's death.

By the time of the trial, it had become known that while they were married to their soon-to-be-murdered spouses, Jim and JoAnn were carrying on an affair behind their backs, which, of course, was motive enough to bump them off. And just as Scott had prophesied in the final verse of his hit song, The Cheater gets exposed and receives his just deserts -- well, some might say only one of them did.

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11 Comments

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breenb396

I suppose if you live the life then you have to suffer the consequences,such a shame though.(this song is a true classic)much sought after.I've always said that a woman can bring a man down...and that one did..as well as herself.I would never trust a woman in a million years.they set out to destroy men..and they susceed in the end.may he rest in peace.

May 30 2011 at 1:07 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
rick

I worked for jim in 1983 nothing but nice to me

March 14 2011 at 10:01 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Belinda Moore

I've been looking for Walter Scott's song, "Cheater" for years. Please, please, tell me where I can find it!

February 18 2010 at 6:06 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jerry Dunn

These murders touched a lot of lives in the area. I lived almost directly across the street from Jim Williams when they found Walter (Scott) Notheis's body in the well behind Williams' house. I had been his neighbor for about 5 years before that but he was not a friendly person when I'd talked to him about doing some electrical work for me.

My sister had gone to high school with Jim Williams' first wife, Sharon (Almaroad), murdered by Williams and staged to look like a car accident not far from his house. I think that "Big Jim" Williams probably killed both of them. He died in prison a few years ago. I hope he rots in hell forever for killing such fine people.

October 12 2009 at 12:26 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Jerry Dunn's comment
Big Jim\'s Son

Actual Jerry you are misinformed, my Dad is still alive in prison. But is on his last leg. And thank you for the comment on the fine people my Dad killed. My Mother was a great woman and is missed dearly. I didnt know Mr. Scott. Merry Xmas.

November 24 2009 at 12:45 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
mrlewp

I played bass for Walter Scott , early 70's , for a year. Worked with some fine players from St. Louis, and New Jersey.
I've seen this story recounted several times on the E channel, and Court TV. It's pretty creepy, as I had met most that were shown, and/or interviewed.
An aside ; some of the group members had been in the band "Stanley Steamer" (Steemer?). I also played bass for them for about 3 months in and around Delaware. Good times !

August 29 2008 at 6:08 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Dennis

I worked for Jim Williams for years, all through the time of the death of his wife and Walters dissapearance.

December 11 2007 at 9:29 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Dennis's comment
geekwanag

Did work with Jim when he was working on Joann's lower level putting in the Mother-in-Law quarters where the adultry manifested?

September 05 2009 at 3:47 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jamey Cruz

A marvelous record, the record kicks. One of Rock's ironys.It shows you how stupid romantic love is, just like the song says, it builds you up and just lets you down. I'd rather have a beer and listen to this great song 100 times, then fall in love with anyone. They just build you up and let you down.R.I.P. Walter Scott, your song has taught me.

September 16 2007 at 6:17 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Gaylord Fields

Tater Tot,

Bwahahahahaha!!! Sorry -- I mean, "Thank you."

May 12 2007 at 9:08 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
tater tot

this is creepy. you come up with some wild stuff mr. fields.

May 11 2007 at 6:56 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply