TUCSON, Ariz. (KVOA) – The Pima County Sheriff’s Department has arrested three suspects now charged with the murder of Paul Clifford, after an hours-long SWAT standoff Monday night.
The News 4 Tucson Investigators were the first news outlet to uncover the suspect’s identities.
The Pima County Attorney’s Office has identified the suspects as Jack Upchurch, Elmer Smith and Wendy Scott, who is only 16.
The trio appeared before a judge on Tuesday morning, the judge announced they are charged with first degree murder as well as charges related to kidnapping, assault, vehicle theft and arson.
The judge ordered Upchurch and Smith to be held on a $1 million bond and Scott to be held on a half-million dollar bond.
PCSD said the charges are related to the murder of 53 year old Paul Clifford.
As we’ve reported, Clifford was found dead next to a burning vehicle Christmas Eve in a remote part of Redington Pass. His family reported him missing the day before after they said a strange man knocked on his door asking for help after experiencing car trouble.
Clifford never returned home.
PCSD said the suspects barricaded themselves inside a mobile home near Benson Highway and Country Club Monday night. They ended up calling 911 to negotiate their peaceful surrender, PCSD said.
News 4 Tucson’s Chief Investigative Reporter Chorus Nylander spoke with several residents of the mobile home park and surrounding apartments.
David Martinez saw the three suspects taken into custody and the large police presence.
“It was crazy it was an eye opener normally this place is very quiet,” he said.
Joel Adkins walks around his neighborhood with a gun holstered to his hip, always ready for the worst.
“I’m always ready,” he said.
Adkins was happy to see the situation resolved without anymore bloodshed.
“All it takes is one stray bullet, you never know,” he explained.
They were shocked to learn the standoff was tied to the murder of Paul Clifford. Kougar Lightfeather said she’s been following Clifford’s case closely and was happy to see the suspects brought to justice.
“The people that killed Paul Clifford, I got to see them be taken away and justice will be served. I feel so bad for the family,” she said.
PCSD has not released any information about a possible motive or how they were able to link the suspects to Clifford’s murder.
The News 4 Tucson Investigators dug deep into the background of the suspects. Little could be found about Scott and Smith but Upchurch has a very long criminal history.
He has previously faced and in some cases been found guilty of vehicle theft and has also been charged for assault and illegally possessing a firearm, among others.
During his court appearance Tuesday, the judge mentioned he had an active warrant out of Oregon but didn’t specify the nature behind it.
On December 5th, just 19 days before Clifford’s murder, Upchurch posted on Facebook saying he is “at rock bottom” and said “if anyone plays 1 more game with me you better be able to fight because I have nothing else to loss (sic).”
The three suspects will appear in court again on January 10th.
Clifford’s family has been devastated by the murder, his daughter Sabrina Vining wrote the following on Facebook after learning of the arrests: “The detective called us last night at 9:00pm and told us they had suspects arrested and in custody! Thank you to the law enforcement officers that diligently worked my dad’s case.”
She has a GoFundMe set up to try and raise money to support her mother through this tragedy. It has raised just under $25,000 as of Tuesday evening.
You can find the fundraiser here.