He’s gotten on the run for years, desired for tried murder after a bomb he presumably grew hurt his separated other half in Wyoming in 1982, according to authorities.
Currently, 76-year-old Stephen Craig Campbell– that has actually been residing in New Mexico under the name and thought identification of Walter Lee Coffman, according to the FBI– remains in protection after a significant apprehension recently.
Authorities stated Campbell’s dual life started unwinding after a 2019 revival of his vehicle driver’s certificate tipped off private investigators that something had not been right.
Stephen Campbell in cops picture.
United State Marshals
Campbell had actually initially been jailed for tried murder in 1982 after authorities stated he grew a bomb in a tool kit on the front door of his separated other half’s sweetheart. The bomb took off when his other half opened up the tool kit, triggering her to shed a finger and endure various other injuries.
Campbell, that was likewise encountering a government weapon fee in link keeping that case, was launched on bond in 1983– and after that vanished.
That’s when, authorities currently state, Campbell handled Coffman’s identification.
Coffman, according to authorities, passed away at age 22 in 1975 and was hidden in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
Detectives think Cambell and Coffman were both design trainees at the College of Arkansas in the mid 1970s, “recommending a most likely link in between both,” according to a court declaring.
Throughout the years, Campbell had the ability to get a vehicle driver’s certificate, united state key and also a Social Protection card in Coffman’s name, authorities stated.
Authorities declare Stephen Craig Campbell, 76, had actually been living under the name and identification of Walter Lee Coffman, that really passed away in 1975.
United State Area Court
In the 1990s, private investigators stated, “Campbell tried to eliminate Coffman’s fatality condition from Social Protection documents by objecting to the firm’s document of Coffman’s fatality” and by 1995, “prospered in getting a substitute Social Protection card in Coffman’s name, making use of a Muskogee, Oklahoma address.”
Campbell, living as Walter Coffman for years, also made an application for and obtained Social Protection advantages to the song of $140,000, according to court documents.
It was a 2019 New Mexico vehicle driver’s certificate revival by Campbell, making use of Coffman’s name, that obviously tipped off authorities, according to court files
The revival ultimately activated a check by representatives from the National Ticket Facility’s scams discovery system. In 2024, those Diplomatic Protection representatives found Coffman had actually been long dead and presumed his identification had actually been made use of fraudulently for years.
Authorities declare Stephen Craig Campbell, 76, had actually been living under the name and identification of Walter Lee Coffman, that really passed away in 1975.
United State Area Court
Recently, an FBI SWAT group, with assistance from Social Protection Management representatives, Personalizeds and Boundary Defense airplane and Otero Region Constable’s replacements, performed a search warrant at a 44-acre story of land in southerly New Mexico that Campbell is thought to have actually possessed in Coffman’s name.
As representatives came close to the house, Campbell presumably welcomed them worn camouflage, listening to defense and equipped with a scoped.302 quality FAL rifle, according to an apprehension memorandum submitted in government court in New Mexico.
Campbell “placed himself in a raised, partly hid area” along a timberline as SWAT representatives come close to in BearCats and released flashbangs. Campbell was originally less competent to callouts, yet became apprehended, court document stated.
District attorneys stated the rifle was packed with high-powered ammo with the ability of puncturing body shield, with the range caps open, and prepared to fire.
A picture from Stephen Campbell court files.
United State Area Court
Upon browsing the building, FBI representatives recouped a cache of tools, consisting of 57 guns and big quantities of ammo. Authorities likewise recouped deceitful files in Coffman’s name, consisting of a Social Protection card and numerous key cards.
An evaluation of his finger prints after his apprehension later on verified Campbell’s real identification, authorities stated.
Along with the initial fees from 1982, Campbell is currently billed with abuse of a key. Nevertheless, district attorneys stated they are examining the opportunity of added fees versus Campbell.
At an apprehension hearing on Wednesday, Campbell was bought apprehended pending test, with the court mentioning Campbell as a trip threat
