MADISON COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) – The man charged with murder after the Madison County Sheriff’s Office found a body in Harvest Thursday has apparent ties to the Alabama and Madison County GOP including working in Senator Tom Butler’s office.

Kyle Lewter was charged with the murder of 54-year-old Derek Walls after the Madison County Sheriff’s Office found a body at a home on Capshaw Road.

Campaign finance records and social media posts show Lewter has ties to the Alabama GOP and was in a paid position for Sen. Butler’s campaign office.

A social media post by Sen. Butler in May 2022 identifies “Kyle Lewter” as his campaign chairman and financial records show he was paid for administrative work.

Butler’s office paid Lewter over $10,500 in both 2022 and 2023, records show.

The Madison County Young Republicans Facebook page says Lewter was their vice chairman and in 2021, he was selected to represent the 5th district of Alabama at the bi-annual YRFA state convention of the Young Republican Federation of Alabama.

The same Facebook page includes photos of Lewter with several top Republicans in Alabama, including Gov. Kay Ivey, former U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, Alabama House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter, Rep. Dale Strong and Madison County Commission Chairman Mac McCutcheon. A Facebook page with Lewter’s name on it includes a number of photos with Lewter and Butler, and a photo of Lewter and Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall.

His Facebook page lists his current job as Administrator, Clinical Research at O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB.

News 19 has reached out to Senator Butler’s office for comment regarding Lewter. Butler responded to News 19 around noon on Friday.

“Prayers for him and his family,” said Butler.

McCutcheon also responded to News 19’s request for comment, saying “I do not want to comment on an ongoing investigation. I know Mr. Lewter and I am very surprised and shocked at this.”