These 5 Famous Homicides In Arizona Will Never Be Forgotten
It should come as no surprise that Arizona has a violent history. Over the centuries, an untold number of violent crimes have taken place, many forgotten to history or just simply ignored. In this article, we will review some of the more well-known homicides to take place in Arizona.
Best known as one of the Earp brothers of Tombstone lore, Morgan Earp served as a Deputy and Marshal in the old boomtown before he was murdered in 1882. The Earp brothers became targets of the Cowboys, an outlaw group known for rustling, robberies, and other illegal activities, which eventually led to the famous Gunfight at the O.K. Corral in 1881 (though it actually took place elsewhere in the town). A few months later, Earp was shot through a windowed door at a parlor while playing billiards. He died within an hour.
What makes this homicide well-known is that it prompted his brother Wyatt Earp to take matters of the law into his own hands after being continually disappointed with the justice system in what later came to be known as the Earp Vendetta Ride.
When the investigative reporter for the Arizona Republicarrived at the Clarendon Hotel to speak with a source, he, like many folks walking in to work, probably never imagined that would be his last day. In Bolles’ case, after returning to his vehicle and starting up his car, dynamite under his vehicle exploded, severely injuring Bolles. Within 11 days, Bolles succumbed to his injuries.
Because Bolles served as an investigative reporter, there was a large list of potential killers, which included the Mafia and high-ranking politicians in the state. However, the people eventually tried for the murder were local businessmen.
This is the same man that brought about the famous line you probably memorized from watching too many Law & Order marathons: the Miranda warning. One decade after winning the Miranda v. Arizona Supreme Court case and shortly after being released from prison, Miranda was stabbed in a Phoenix bar fight and died when he arrived at the hospital.
You probably recognize this guy from the series, Hogan’s Heroes,, as Colonel Hogan. Crane relocated to Arizona following a lapsing acting career and was found in his Scottsdale apartment beaten to death. While his former friend and electronics sales manager, John Henry Carpenter, was suspected of murder, he won a trial regarding the case. To this day, Crane’s murder remains unsolved and officially a mystery.
5. Fisher Family murders, 2001
This grisly triple homicide and arson case placed Robert Fisher on the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted List. In April 2001, Fisher murdered his wife and children in their Scottsdale home, then set the house on fire, which caused a number of small and large explosions even as firefighters arrived on the scene. Fisher disappeared and he is rumored to be living in Rim Country.
Chilling, right? Are there any we missed that you think should have made the list? Let us know in the comments below.
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Monica is a Diné (Navajo) freelance writer and photographer based in the Southwest. Born in Gallup and raised in Phoenix, she is Tódich'ii'nii (Bitter Water People) and Tsi'naajinii (Black Streak Wood People). Monica is a staff writer for Only In Your State, photo editor for The Mesa Legend, and previously a staff writer for The Navajo Post. You can reach her at monica.d.spencer@gmail.com.
