A good Samaritan in Arizona was found dead near a smoldering vehicle near a dirt road on Christmas Eve, authorities said.
Pima County officers responded to a report of suspicious activity near 14000 N. San Pedro River Road around 1:20 a.m. Fox Phoenix reported.
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Paul Clifford, 53, was found dead near a smoldering vehicle in Arizona on Christmas Eve. (GoFundMe)
“While en route to the scene of the accident, officers discovered information that led them to believe the incident may have been related to a stolen vehicle,” the Pima County Sheriff’s Department said.
Investigators believe the suspect went to Paul Clifford’s home and asked for help with a car problem. His family reported him missing when they had not heard from him.
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Image from the Pima County Sheriff’s Department. (Image credit: Pima County Sheriff’s Department) (Pima County Sheriff’s Department)
Clifford, 53, was later found dead near a smoldering vehicle on a bumpy dirt road, the news outlet reported.
“It’s very far. It is very remote and to get there you need a specific vehicle. I think you can get there with a regular two-wheel drive vehicle, but it will be very slow,” said Deputy Adam Schoonover.
Fox News Digital has contacted the Sheriff’s Office and Clifford’s family. In an online fundraiser, Clifford was described as “a gentle giant with a big, caring heart.”
It was said he left his home to help a stranded motorist when he failed to return.
Image of the Pima County Adult Detention Center. (Image credit: Pima County Sheriff’s Department) ((Source: Pima County Sheriff’s Department))
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“My father disappeared at 11:30 last night. He took my truck to jump start someone. We tracked down the truck and police found it in Tucson,” Sabrinna Vining wrote on Facebook in a post announcing that her father had disappeared and had been murdered.
There were no arrests.
