On October 8, at 5:39 p.m., the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a missing person in the Jacob Lake, Ariz., area. The caller advised her husband and his friend had been camping in the Jacob Lake area and that she had not heard from her husband in a few days.
Deputies from the Page Substation responded to the location and located the campsite. The missing person was identified as Russell Vinton, a 66-yearold male from Prescott, Az. Vinton’s truck and camper were not at the campsite, but other items found at the site were suspicious in nature and gave deputies concern for Vinton’s welfare. The investigation continued throughout the evening and into the next day.
On October 9, at about 11 a.m., CCSO was notified that Lake Havasu Police Department had found Vinton’s truck in an area outside of Lake Havasu City, Ariz., called Craggy Wash. When Lake Havasu PD contacted the subject in the truck, the detectives were fired upon by the subject. The detectives returned fire, striking the subject, who was pronounced deceased at the scene. Detectives sustained minor injuries and were later released from the hospital.
The deceased subject has been identified as Patrick Neal Champion, a 61-year-old from Tennessee. The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office continues to search for Vinton, the camper trailer and any other evidence in the case. CCSO Detectives are working with Lake Havasu City and Bullhead City Police Detectives on the circumstances of what led to this incident.
The camper trailer is described as a white 2017 travel trailer with Arizona license plate 5LA50N. The license plate may or may not still be affixed to the trailer.
CCSO is asking for the public’s help in locating the camper trailer and Vinton. If you have any information on the location of the camper trailer or any other information on this case, contact the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office at 928-774-4523 or Coconino County Silent Witness at 928-774-6111.
On October 10, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office received information of a deceased subject who was identified as the missing person, Russell Vinton. This case continues to be investigated as a homicide. No further information is currently available.
The Sheriff’s Office is still asking for assistance in locating Vinton’s trailer.
