Decades-Long Hunt Ends: Fugitive Captured After Living Under Dead Man’s Identity
The long arm of the law finally caught up with Stephen Craig Campbell, a 76-year-old fugitive wanted in connection with the attempted murder of his estranged wife more than four decades ago. Campbell, who masterfully evaded capture for years by assuming the identity of a deceased individual, was apprehended in New Mexico last week, bringing an end to a saga that spanned decades and crossed state lines. The Justice Department formally announced the capture Wednesday, marking a significant victory for law enforcement and a sense of closure for the victims involved.
Campbell’s elaborate scheme involved adopting the identity of Walter Lee Coffman, a man who died in 1975 at the young age of 22. He managed to maintain this false persona for decades, fraudulently collecting approximately $140,000 in retired social security benefits. However, his meticulously constructed facade began to crumble, culminating in an armed standoff with police at his New Mexico residence, where authorities discovered a staggering arsenal of nearly 60 weapons.
The roots of this extraordinary case extend back to 1982 in Sweetwater, Wyoming, where Campbell allegedly planted a booby-trapped toolbox outside the home of his estranged wife’s boyfriend. The device was rigged with explosives, and when the intended victim opened the container, a powerful explosion ripped through the area. The blast tore off one of her fingers and sent shrapnel flying, causing significant injuries. The ensuing fire engulfed the residence and spread to a neighboring unit, causing extensive damage.
Following the bombing, Campbell was arrested and charged with attempted first-degree murder. However, he was released on bond, and shortly after posting bail, he vanished, effectively disappearing into thin air. A warrant was issued for his arrest, but despite numerous leads and extensive efforts, authorities were unable to locate him.
Campbell’s ability to evade capture for so long was attributed to his adoption of Walter Lee Coffman’s identity. Coffman, like Campbell, had attended the University of Arkansas and pursued an engineering degree. University records revealed that both men were enrolled at the institution during the same period, suggesting a possible connection that Campbell exploited to his advantage.
In 1984, Campbell took the first step in solidifying his new identity by applying for a passport under Coffman’s name. Over the years, he renewed the passport multiple times, always providing a photograph of himself and his current address. This brazen act of deception allowed him to travel and conduct business under the false identity with relative ease. Further cementing his fabricated existence, Campbell obtained a replacement Social Security card in Coffman’s name in 1995 by using an Oklahoma driver’s license, also fraudulently obtained in Coffman’s name.
Around 2003, Campbell relocated to Weed, New Mexico, where he purchased a 44-acre property using Coffman’s name. He continued to renew the fraudulent passport, further entrenching himself in his assumed identity. For years, the scheme remained undetected, allowing Campbell to live a life of relative anonymity while evading justice for his alleged crimes.
The unraveling of Campbell’s carefully constructed deception began in 2019 when he attempted to renew his New Mexico driver’s license under Coffman’s name, presenting a passport bearing Coffman’s name as identification. This seemingly routine act triggered an investigation by agents from the National Passport Centers Fraud Prevention Unit. The agents discovered Coffman’s death and began to suspect the decades-long fraudulent use of his identity.
On February 19th, authorities descended upon Campbell’s property in Weed, New Mexico, to execute a search warrant. Upon arrival, they found Campbell armed with a scoped rifle, positioned in an elevated and partially concealed location. He appeared to be prepared for a confrontation.
After repeated orders to surrender and the deployment of flashbangs, Campbell eventually emerged from the wood line and was taken into custody. The rifle he possessed was loaded with high-powered ammunition capable of piercing standard body armor, indicating a clear intent to use deadly force if necessary. The scope caps were flipped open, the selector lever was set to fire, and a round was chambered, confirming the weapon was ready for immediate use.
A subsequent search of the property revealed a cache of 57 firearms and large quantities of ammunition. As a convicted fugitive, Campbell was prohibited from possessing firearms, further compounding his legal troubles. Fingerprinting confirmed his true identity as Stephen Craig Campbell, finally bringing an end to his decades-long evasion.
The capture of Campbell was met with relief and a sense of accomplishment by law enforcement officials who had worked on the case for years. Jason Mower, a spokesperson for the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office, highlighted the case’s enduring presence within the department. He stated that Campbell’s wanted poster had been on the wall at the office since he started nearly 20 years ago. Despite working hundreds of fugitive cases, Mower noted that every lead in Campbell’s case had gone cold, making his capture all the more significant.
Joe Tomich, undersheriff for the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office, emphasized the scale of the case, from its violent origins to the decades-long search and dramatic resolution. He described the case as almost unbelievable, highlighting the cold and calculated nature of the original crime, the extensive search efforts, and the tense standoff in the mountains of New Mexico. Tomich revealed that he had a case file on Campbell the size of a novel, filled with leads that had ultimately gone nowhere. However, he emphasized that law enforcement never gave up, and they now understood why Campbell had always managed to stay one step ahead.
Campbell appeared in federal court in New Mexico on Wednesday, facing fraud charges related to the use of a stolen identity. If convicted on these charges, he faces a potential sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison. Following the conclusion of the federal proceedings, he will be extradited to Wyoming to stand trial for the 1982 bombing. The Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office has placed a detainer to ensure his return to Wyoming once the federal proceedings conclude, finally bringing him to justice for the crimes he allegedly committed more than four decades ago. The capture brings a sense of closure to victims.
