AZ - Retta Atkins, 73, and Darren Vanhouten, 50, Double Homicide, Kingman, 28 June 2022 *arrest*

[Countem]

Authorities ID victims, release photo of person sought in connection with double-homicide

The Mohave County Sheriff's Office on Thursday made public the identities of two victims of a Tuesday double-homicide east of Kingman and released a photo of a person they seek for questioning in connection with the deaths.

mohavedailynews.com

The two victims, Retta Atkins, 73, and Darren Vanhouten, 50, were killed at their home in the 9200 block of Dilligaf Road east of Kingman.

Atkins was the founder and owner of The Gold Lady, a Golden Valley business that offers gold prospector and mining equipment and supplies and also buys and sells gold.

Their bodies were found at about 8:15 p.m. on June 28, 2022 by law enforcement while performing a welfare check on the residence.

A video surveillance system at the home gave authorities a usable image of a person who was on the property on Tuesday. The person was described as being a light-skinned man with dark hair, 20 to 30 years old, 5-foot-6 to 6-foot tall and weighing 150 to 170 pounds. The person captured in the image is wearing glasses.

https://imgur.com/a/5V8sKcD

The man has not yet been located.

Mohave Silent Witness has offered a reward of up to $2,000 for information leading to the arrest of the person or persons responsible for the murders.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the Mohave County Sheriff's Office at 928-753-0753 or 800-522-4312. The case reference is DR 22-024010.

 

[meanmaryjean]

That disconjugate gaze should help identify him.

 

[MAHBOOBOO]

Geez, their house location is PRETTY rural. Makes me think that this isn't random. Then again, you never know what kind of neighbors you'll get in the desert. Hmmmm...

From what I've found, this is the house.

She seemed like an interesting and fun person to know. Her business "buys gold", wonder if she had a stash of gold at the house.

Here's a link to the business website of RA. About Us | Golden Valley, Kingman, AZ | The Gold Lady

 

[ElGato]

That disconjugate gaze should help identify him.

Is that what it is, thanks Not sure I've ever met someone with such a severe case. It would be distinctive for sure.

This is the third notable case for me from obscure little Kingman, of law abiding people murdered out of the blue: Sid Cranston, the McFalls, now this. Beginning to feel there's something creepy about the Kingman area.

JMO

 

[airportwoman]

Is that what it is, thanks Not sure I've ever met someone with such a severe case. It would be distinctive for sure.

This is the third notable case for me from obscure little Kingman, of law abiding people murdered out of the blue: Sid Cranston, the McFalls, now this. Beginning to feel there's something creepy about the Kingman area.

JMO

I've heard that the region is meth central.

 

[Countem]

Suspect in Mohave County double homicide still at-large

Mohave Silent Witness has offered a reward of $2,000 for anyone with information leading to the arrest of the person responsible for the homicide.

www.ktnv.com

The suspect is still at large. Hopefully, he will be identified soon.

 

[MAHBOOBOO]

LE has released a new video of the suspect and a little more information.

Tempe burglary suspect linked to Mohave County double murder, sheriff says

Authorities in Mohave County say a gun has linked a man jailed in Maricopa County to a double murder near Kingman.

www.fox10phoenix.com

IMO the suspect appears to be carrying a machete.

 

[Countem]

LE has released a new video of the suspect and a little more information.

Tempe burglary suspect linked to Mohave County double murder, sheriff says

Authorities in Mohave County say a gun has linked a man jailed in Maricopa County to a double murder near Kingman.

www.fox10phoenix.com

IMO the suspect appears to be carrying a machete.

Thank you for posting this!

I am shocked that the suspect has not been identified with such clear footage (despite the face covering). Hopefully the news about the suspect’s injury to the left shoulder seals the deal, and someone reports him.

 

[vls12345]

LE has released a new video of the suspect and a little more information.

Tempe burglary suspect linked to Mohave County double murder, sheriff says

Authorities in Mohave County say a gun has linked a man jailed in Maricopa County to a double murder near Kingman.

www.fox10phoenix.com

IMO the suspect appears to be carrying a machete.

Wow. That is very clear footage. And it creeps me out.

 

[Countem]

Man wanted for multiple murders in Arizona, Nevada found dead after running from law enforcement

Hunter McGuire, 26, was found in the remote desert area east of Yucca with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

www.azfamily.com

A Kingman man wanted for murders in Arizona and Nevada was found dead with a self-inflicted gunshot wound on Friday after hours of negotiation with police and SWAT in the Yucca desert.

Earlier this week, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department issued an arrest warrant for 26-year-old Hunter McGuire and his girlfriend, 32-year-old Samantha Branek, for a murder that occurred in Las Vegas on Oct. 17. During their investigation detectives learned McGuire and Branek had been hiding out in Las Vegas after video surveillance linked McGuire to the murders of Retta Atkins and Darren VanHouten that happened in Kingman on Jun. 28.

Deputies searched the Golden Valley property where McGuire and Branek reportedly lived and found evidence that linked to the Atkins and VanHouten murders.

I am glad that the families now have some answers.

 

[ifindedout]

For anyone who cannot access the article, Branek was also found dead at the scene, and also from a gunshot wound.

 

[Countem]

This article has a lot more details about the final movements of the suspects.

Bonnie & Clyde-style multi-state murder spree ends with couple dead in Arizona desert

Hunter McGuire and Samantha Branek were wanted in connection with four murders when they fled police last Thursday and were found dead in an Arizona desert, authorities announced.

www.foxnews.com

 

[Countem]

The following article details the entire crime spree that included the deaths of RA and DV.

Hunter McGuire's deadly crime spree

A Kingman man connected to at least five murders in two states died from an apparent suicide as law enforcement personnel were closing in on him near the Mohave County community of Yucca.

mohavedailynews.com

A Kingman man connected to at least five murders in two states died from an apparent suicide as law enforcement personnel were closing in on him near the Mohave County community of Yucca.

Robbery was the apparent motive in the deaths of Atkins and Vanhouten.

 

[Countem]

Suspect in custody for double-homicide in outskirts of Kingman

A suspect is in custody in connection with a double-homicide reported in the outskirts of Kingman, Arizona last year, according to authorities.The Mohave County

news3lv.com

A suspect, Daniel Matthew Avila, is in custody in connection with the homicides of Retta Atkins and Darren Vanhouten.

When Avila was arrested last month in Tempe, police found a gun on him. Ballistics have connected that gun to the bullets located at the murder scene of the couple.

Detectives have also found scarring consistent with a gunshot wound on Avila's left shoulder, which aligns with wounds that the culprit sustained according to surveillance footage.

 

[Countem]

More details released in Kingman double homicide case

Daniel Matthew Avila, 25, is wanted on two counts of first-degree murder. He is currently in Maricopa County jail on a $100,000 bond on six counts of burglary and possessing burglary tools. Avila was arrested Feb. 21 for a home invasion of a Tempe home.

mohavedailynews.com

A probable cause statement has been released providing more information about the search warrant issued for suspect Daniel Matthew Avila.

Check out the article for a ton of previously unreleased information about the crime scene, cell phone records that link the suspect to the crime, shell casings that link the suspect to the crime, and a vehicle that links the suspect to the crime.

WOW. I can say that I was NOT expecting any further news on this case after the previous news stories published in January.

Justice for Retta and Darren!

 

[Countem]

Kingman murder suspect to stand trial on separate burglary charges in Maricopa County

A primary suspect in the alleged murder of two Kingman residents could stand trial later this year, on unrelated charges of burglary in Maricopa County.

www.havasunews.com

Following is a summary of updated timeline items from the article. The following all revolve around burglary allegations separate from the deaths of RA and DV. The allegations relating to the deaths of RA and DV will be addressed after this case is resolved.

February 2023: DA was arrested during an alleged home invasion in Tempe with a gun that was tied to the murders of RA and DV.
March 2023: DA pled not guilty to six counts of first-degree burglary.
May 2023: A mental health evaluation for DA was granted by the court.
July 10, 2023: DA was ruled competent to stand trial.

DA is scheduled to appear for a trial assignment hearing on Sept. 20, 2023 in Phoenix.

The article also includes an arrest photo.

 

[Countem]

Tempe burglary trial upcoming, suspect awaits murder arraignment in Mohave County

An El Mirage man was indicted earlier this year in Kingman, on charges of first-degree murder. But before he can be arraigned in Mohave Superior Court, he will stand trial

www.havasunews.com

Avila is expected to appear in Mohave Superior Court Sept. 13 for a final management conference in [the burglary] case, followed by a trial assignment hearing on Sept. 20. According to Maricopa court records, Avila's [burglary] trial is expected to take place before November 20.

 

[Countem]

Man takes plea in Maricopa burglary, will stand trial for murder in Mohave

A suspect in the slaying of two Kingman residents will soon face trial in Mohave County, with the pending conclusion of an unrelated case of first-degree burglary in Tempe.

www.havasunews.com

In a case unrelated to Atkins and Vanhouten, Avila accepted a plea agreement on Jan. 17, pleading guilty to one count of attempted first-degree burglary as a non-dangerous offense. Avila is scheduled to appear on Feb. 15 for sentencing in the case, before possible extradition to Mohave County to face two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Atkins and Vanhouten.

 

[Countem]

Judge orders extradition for suspect in Kingman double-homicide

A man accused in the 2022 slaying of two Kingman residents will be extradited to stand trial on counts of first degree murder in Mohave County, following a judicial order

www.havasunews.com

Avila was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison for the unrelated burglary case. A felony indictment has now been filed against Avila in Mohave Superior Court, and Avila has been approved to be moved to the custody of Mohave County.