People have arrested three suspects in connection with murder after a Good Samaritan was lured to his death by a stranger who claimed to be having car trouble.
Paul Clifford, 53, was found dead next to burning car on Christmas Eve, just hours after a man rang the doorbell at his family’s southern Arizona home and asked for help with his car.
Jack Daryl Upchurch, 40, Elmer Glenn Smith, 19, and 16-year-old Wendy Scott were taken into custody Monday night following a SWAT standoff, KVOA-TV reported.
All three suspects were charged with first-degree murder in connection to Clifford’s death, as well as a slew of other charges included armed robbery and arson of an occupied structure.
Upchurch and Smith are each being held on a $1million bond, while Scott’s bond was set at $500,000.
Sabrina Vining, one of Clifford’s two daughters, has been very vocal on social media about the case. She issued a statement Tuesday night hailing the efforts of police.
‘We are devastated by what has happened but are very grateful that they have these vile people in custody and intend to do everything in our power to make sure they are prosecuted to the full extent of the law,’ she said in a statement to KOLD-TV.
She also posted on Facebook to thank law enforcement for ‘working diligently’ on Clifford’s case.
Paul Clifford, 53, set out from his Benson, Arizona home on the evening of December 23 when a man appeared at the Clifford’s home claiming his car had broken down. He was found dead the next day along a desolate stretch of road northeast of Tucson
Jack Daryl Upchurch, 40, (left) Elmer Glenn Smith, 19, (center) and 16-year-old Wendy Scott (right) were taken into custody Monday night following a SWAT standoff. All three have been charged with first-degree murder, as well as a slew of other charges included armed robbery and arson of an occupied structure
Police found Clifford’s body along a desolate stretch of road northeast of Tucson next to a smoldering car. The remote location was so difficult to access that deputies described it as being ‘nearly impossible’ to reach without specialized vehicles
A man approached Clifford’s family home in Benson, about 45 miles outside of Tucson, late on December 23, claiming his car had broken down.
Clifford, whose family says had a generous nature, took his daughter’s truck and left with the stranger on 11.30pm to help. When he failed to return home after several hours, his concerned family called 911.
Pima County Sheriff’s deputies responded to reports of suspicious activity, possibly related to a vehicle theft investigation, around 1am on December 24.
They found Clifford’s body along a desolate stretch of road northeast of Tucson next to a smoldering car. The victim’s vehicle was missing from the scene.
The remote location was so difficult to access that deputies described it as being ‘nearly impossible’ to reach without specialized vehicles.
Paul Clifford, 53, was said to be a loyal family man. He is pictured with his wife and two daughters, Sabrina and Samantha
Paul Clifford is pictured in a photo from his younger years
Paul is seen alongside his wife, Christine, daughters Sabrina and Samanatha together with his young grandson
Sabrina Vining, one of Clifford’s two daughters, has been very vocal on social media about the investigation. She posted on Facebook Tuesday night to thank law enforcement for ‘working diligently’ on Clifford’s case
‘It’s very far, it’s very remote and to get out there it takes a specific vehicle. I think you can get there in a two wheel vehicle but it’s going to be very slow going,’ said Deputy Adam Schoonover of the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.
Police found Clifford’s truck later that day, abandoned at an apartment complex in Tucson between Prince Road and Roger Road.
Investigators received information that the suspects were possibly in south Tuscon, near the area of Benson Highway and Country Club.
Detectives obtained a search warrant and the regional SWAT Team served it at the location on Monday, December 30.
The suspects barricaded themselves into the residence, resulting in a standoff, and eventually called 911 to negotiate a surrender. Police say they were arrested without incident.
Police have not released details about a possible motive for Clifford’s murder.
True to his generous nature, Clifford took one of his daughter’s truck and left around 11.30pm on December 23 – but as the hours passed by with no word from him, his family grew increasingly concerned
Paul Clifford is pictured alongside his wife Christina Clifford
Vining, who has been updating the public about the case, described her dad as a ‘gentle giant’ with a heart of compassion.
‘We are devastated. He was the kind of man who would do anything for anyone, and this is how he was repaid,’ she wrote on a GoFundMe page to support her grieving family.
‘I’m at a loss for my mom and am doing everything I can to support her through this unimaginable pain.
‘I’m trying my best to help my mom with anything I can. Any help is appreciated and not expected, people have reached out and I want to make sure my mom is taken care of because that’s what my dad would have wanted,’ Vining added.
Nearly $25,000 has been raised to support the family during this difficult time.
