Paul Clifford, Arizona man who left home to jump start a stranger’s vehicle found dead near Tucson. Good Samaritan’s death related to stolen vehicle. No arrests.
An Arizona man was found dead less than two hours after leaving his family home to assist a stranger jump start their vehicle after an unknown man knocking on the door late Monday night to say they were having car trouble.
Paul Clifford, 53, was found deceased near a ‘smoldering vehicle’ by Redington Pass in Pima County, near Tucson, just after 1am, according to the victim’s family.
The sheriff’s department said it responded to the remote area east of Tuscon on a call of suspicious activity. There, on a remote dirt road, they found the burning vehicle and Clifford’s body nearby. Detectives with the Pima County Sheriff’s Department said they found information that led them to believe the activity there was related to a stolen vehicle, KOLD reported.
Who knocked on Paul Clifford’s door?
Clifford’s daughter, Sabrina Vining, posted on Facebook that her 53-year-old father had taken her truck to help a stranger who approached him at his home at about 11:30 p.m. on Monday asking for help jumpstarting his vehicle. When he didn’t return home, the family tracked the truck and gave that information to police, who found it at an apartment complex in Tucson.
The circumstances into the case has led to authorities suggesting individuals remain on guard and exercising caution.
‘I don’t think that there’s anything that says this is ongoing,’ Deputy Adam Schoonover told KOLD, adding, ‘but with this type of incident you never really know and so it’s always good to be on-guard. If something doesn’t feel right, don’t go through with it. Maybe, just tell the person you can’t help them out or maybe take somebody with you or whatever the case may be.’
To date, no arrests have been made, with the identity of the stranger who lured Clifford from the family home unknown. Of note, police have declined to say how Clifford was killed.
A GoFundme fundraiser to support the family in the wake of the father’s murder had raised $12,310 of a $30K goal.
Anyone with information on Clifford’s homicide is asked to call 911 or 88-CRIME (520-882-7463). Tips can also be provided anonymously here.
