Bombing Suspect Arrested After 40+ Years on the Run
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/Stephen-Craig-Campbell-mugshot-022625-1-5c9944b858dd48edb43f8573abe8c34b.jpg)
After more than four decades on the run, a suspect wanted for attempted first-degree murder in a bombing incident from 1982 has finally been apprehended. Stephen Craig Campbell, now 76 years old, was arrested in Weed, New Mexico on February 19th, as confirmed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico.
Campbell’s arrest sheds light on a long-standing criminal case that has evaded justice for years. According to reports, Campbell was accused of planting a bomb that injured his estranged wife back in 1982. The bomb was allegedly placed at the doorstep of his wife’s boyfriend, but tragically, his wife ended up being the one to open the toolbox containing the explosive device. The detonation resulted in her losing a finger and sustaining other injuries, while also causing a fire in the residence and a neighbouring unit.
Despite being arrested in Wyoming in 1982 for the attempted murder charges, Campbell managed to evade authorities by assuming the identity of Walter Lee Coffman, a deceased individual. The investigation revealed that Campbell and Coffman had both pursued engineering degrees at the University of Arkansas during the same time period, indicating a calculated effort to escape the law.
Campbell’s use of Coffman’s identity extended beyond obtaining fraudulent government benefits. He reportedly applied for a passport under Coffman’s name in 1984 and renewed it multiple times, even providing his own photograph. Additionally, Campbell obtained a replacement Social Security card under Coffman’s name in 1995, using an Oklahoma driver’s license bearing Coffman’s details.
Upon relocating to Weed in 2003, Campbell allegedly purchased property under Coffman’s name, further entrenching his false identity. Despite renewing his passport under Coffman’s name in 2005 and 2015 with updated photos each time, it wasn’t until 2019 that authorities discovered the fraudulent use of Coffman’s identity during a routine driver’s license renewal.
Campbell’s elaborate ruse came to an end when agents from the National Passport Center’s Fraud Prevention Unit uncovered Coffman’s death and the misuse of his identity. Upon his arrest, Campbell greeted authorities armed and dressed in camouflage, signalling his anticipation of being caught. Subsequent searches of his property revealed an arsenal of 57 firearms and large quantities of ammunition, leading to additional charges of misuse of a passport.
Despite facing his 1982 charges for attempted murder, Campbell’s arrest also raises the possibility of further charges as investigations continue. As the case unfolds, the authorities are diligently working to ensure that justice is served after more than four decades of evasion. The arrest of Stephen Craig Campbell marks a significant milestone in a longstanding criminal investigation, highlighting the importance of perseverance and dedication in pursuing justice.