Late Wednesday morning, the heart of St. Louis woke to tragic news out of the Central West End. Jardyn Walker — known to fans as J Rok Imb or JROK Peewee — was found dead with a fatal stab wound to his torso after being reported missing, police confirmed. He was just 23 years old.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department says officers were called around 1 a.m. to the 4200 block of Olive Street early Wednesday. University City police had traced a missing person’s cellphone signal to that area, prompting the call to St. Louis officers. When they arrived, they found Walker unresponsive and pronounced him dead at the scene.
Walker had been reported missing hours earlier in University City before the cellphone ping led authorities to the alley in the Central West End. Police are still investigating what exactly happened and have not named any suspects or shared a motive. The case remains active and open.
In St. Louis, Walker was more than just a name. He carved out a presence in the entertainment community, especially as an up‑and‑coming rapper and reality TV personality. Performing under the stage names J Rok Imb and JROK Peewee, he appeared on the first season of Two Ways with Erica Mena on the Zeus Network and had auditioned for Bad Boys: Houston.
Friends and fans describe him as driven and fearless, someone who carried his ambitions with both confidence and openness. A graduate of Riverview Gardens Senior High School, he stayed connected to his St. Louis roots even as he worked to broaden his reach in music and television.
As news of his death spread, social media lit up with tributes. People remembered his energy, his raw talent, and the way he spoke about his dreams. Many expressed shock and heartbreak, saying his loss leaves a hole in the local arts scene — and in the lives of those who knew him.
Police are urging anyone with information to contact the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Division. For now, his passing stands as a painful reminder of both how quickly life can change and how fiercely loved promise can be.
