People arrested three suspects in connection with the murder after a good Samaritan was lured to his death by a stranger who claimed to have car trouble.
Paul Clifford, 53, was found dead next to a burning car on Christmas Eve, just hours after a man rang the doorbell of his family’s home in southern Arizona and asked for help with his car.
Jack Daryl Upchurch, 40, Elmer Glenn Smith, 19, and Wendy Scott, 16, were taken into custody Monday night following a SWAT standoff. KVOA-TV reported.
All three suspects were charged with first-degree murder in connection with Clifford’s death, as well as a host of other charges including armed robbery and arson of an occupied structure.
Upchurch and Smith are being held on $1 million bail each, while Scott’s bail 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 praising police efforts.
“We are devastated by what has happened, but we are very grateful that these vile people are being held in custody and we intend to do everything in our power to ensure that they are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” he said. in a statement to KOLD-TV.
He also posted on Facebook to thank authorities for “working diligently” on Clifford’s case.
Paul Clifford, 53, was leaving his home in Benson, Arizona, on the night of December 23, when a man showed up at the Clifford home claiming his car had broken down. He was found dead the next day on a desolate stretch of highway northeast of Tucson.
Jack Daryl Upchurch, 40, (left), Elmer Glenn Smith, 19, (center) and Wendy Scott, 16 (right), were taken into custody Monday night after a standoff with SWAT. All three have been charged with first-degree murder, as well as a host of other charges including armed robbery and arson of an occupied structure.
Police found Clifford’s body on a desolate stretch of highway northeast of Tucson, next to a burning car. The remote location was so difficult to access that officers described it as “almost impossible” to reach without specialized vehicles.
A man approached Clifford’s family home in Benson, about 45 miles from Tucson, late on Dec. 23, claiming his car had broken down.
Clifford, whose family says he had a generous character, took his daughter’s truck and left with the stranger at 11:30 p.m. to help. When he couldn’t return home after several hours, his worried family called 911.
Pima County Sheriff’s deputies responded to reports of suspicious activity, possibly related to a vehicle theft investigation, around 1 a.m. on December 24.
They found Clifford’s body on a desolate stretch of highway northeast of Tucson, next to a burning car. The victim’s vehicle disappeared from the scene.
The remote location was so difficult to access that officers described it as “almost 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 appears in a photo from his youth.
Paul is seen with his wife, Christine, his daughters Sabrina and Samanatha and his young grandson.
Sabrina Vining, one of Clifford’s two daughters, has been very vocal on social media about the investigation. He posted on Facebook Tuesday night to thank authorities for “working diligently” on Clifford’s case.
“It is very far away, it is very remote and to get there you need a specific vehicle. I think you can get there on a two-wheeled vehicle, but it will be very slow,” said Deputy Adam Schoonover of the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.
Police found Clifford’s truck that same day, abandoned at an apartment complex in Tucson between Prince Road and Roger Road.
Investigators received information that the suspects were possibly in south Tucson, near the Benson Highway and Country Club area.
Detectives obtained a search warrant and the regional SWAT team served it at the scene on Monday, December 30.
The suspects barricaded themselves in the residence, leading to a standoff and eventually calling 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 vans and left around 11:30 p.m. on December 23, but as the hours passed without hearing from him, his family became increasingly worried.
Paul Clifford is pictured with his wife Christina Clifford.
Vining, who has been informing the public about the case, described his father as a “gentle giant” with a compassionate heart.
‘We are devastated. “He was the kind of man who would do anything for anyone, and that’s how he was repaid,” he wrote in a GoFundMe page to support his grieving family.
“I am lost for my mother and am doing everything I can to support her through this unimaginable pain.
‘I’m doing everything I can to help my mom in any way 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.