Over three decades have passed since the murder of James Bulger, a case that shook Britain to its core and left scars that have never healed. The two ten-year-old boys responsible, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables, were granted lifelong anonymity after serving their juvenile sentences. They were given new identities to protect them from public anger. Yet, despite those measures, conspiracy theories about their whereabouts and lives have never gone away.

The latest claim spreading across social media and TikTok is as sensational as it is disturbing: that Robert Thompson, one of James Bulger’s killers, may in fact be living a second life as Liverpool gangster and TikTok personality Sam Walker.

Who is Sam Walker?

Sam Walker is a well-known figure in Liverpool’s criminal underworld. Frequently in the headlines for brushes with the law, dramatic police chases, and stints in prison, he has cultivated a reputation as a rebellious, anti-establishment figure. More recently, he’s become a TikTok sensation, posting videos that mix brash displays of defiance with a kind of cult following among young viewers who see him as a renegade.

His visibility online has made him an unlikely celebrity — but also a target of scrutiny. And it is here that internet sleuths began drawing shocking parallels.

Why people are making the connection

On forums, YouTube channels, and TikTok comment sections, whispers have spread that Walker and Thompson are “one and the same.” Supporters of this theory point to:

Geographical links: Both Walker and Thompson are associated with Liverpool.

Age similarities: Thompson, born in 1982, would be in his early 40s now — roughly the same age as Walker.

Behavioral patterns: Some argue that Walker’s streak of notoriety, constant clashes with authority, and anti-establishment posturing fit the psychological profile of someone who grew up under extreme circumstances.

Anonymity loopholes: Since Thompson was granted lifelong anonymity, his new identity was never publicly revealed. This vacuum of knowledge has fueled endless speculation about who he “really” is today.

Why the theory doesn’t add up

Despite its spread online, the theory has glaring flaws. Sam Walker’s criminal history is well-documented, including arrests and prison time under his own name. There are public records, court documents, and extensive media coverage of Walker’s life stretching back years. It would be virtually impossible for him to be Robert Thompson without authorities, journalists, or legal systems uncovering the truth.

Moreover, the UK government treats the identities of Thompson and Venables with extreme sensitivity. If there were even the slightest chance of their anonymity being compromised, courts would move immediately to suppress the information.

The danger of these claims

What makes theories like this particularly dangerous is how easily misinformation can take hold in the digital age. Platforms like TikTok and Reddit can magnify a whisper into a wildfire, where speculation is taken as fact. While it may satisfy a public hunger to “unmask” Thompson, attaching his name to living individuals without evidence risks harassment, vigilantism, and even violence against innocent people.

Why people still believe

At its core, this theory reflects a deeper truth: Britain has never been able to fully process or move on from the murder of James Bulger. The anonymity granted to his killers created a vacuum — and in that vacuum, speculation thrives. Every new face, every controversial figure from Liverpool, becomes a candidate for the role of “hidden killer.”

For many, the idea that Thompson could be walking freely, perhaps even flaunting himself online, is almost too tantalizing a story to ignore. But the reality is far less dramatic: Sam Walker is a career criminal and TikTok personality in his own right, and Robert Thompson’s true whereabouts remain unknown, protected by one of the most stringent anonymity orders in British legal history.