{"id":2386256,"date":"2025-01-03T17:32:01","date_gmt":"2025-01-03T22:32:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/three-arrested-after-good-samaritan-is-found-dead-next-to-smoldering-car\/"},"modified":"2025-01-03T17:33:53","modified_gmt":"2025-01-03T22:33:53","slug":"three-arrested-after-good-samaritan-is-found-dead-next-to-smoldering-car","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/three-arrested-after-good-samaritan-is-found-dead-next-to-smoldering-car\/","title":{"rendered":"Three Arrested After &#8216;Good Samaritan&#8217; Is Found Dead Next to Smoldering Car"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fthree-arrested-after-good-samaritan-is-found-dead-next-to-smoldering-car%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2386256&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Three individuals have been arrested \u200din \u2062connection with the Christmas \u2062Eve murder of Paul Clifford, a 53-year-old man from Pima County,\u200d Arizona. While celebrating with his family, Clifford answered \u2064a knock \u200dat the door around 1:20 a.m. from someone seeking \u2064help \u2064for a broken-down car.\u200d Trusting this person would\u2063 be a good Samaritan,\u2064 Clifford \u2063went outside but never\u2064 returned.His body was later discovered near \u2064a smoldering \u200bvehicle.<\/p>\n<p>The Pima County Sheriff&#8217;s\u2063 Department conducted an investigation\u2064 adn\u2062 executed a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ohio-massage-parlor-suspected-of-human-trafficking-and-prostitution\/\" title=\"Ohio massage parlor suspected of sex trafficking and prostitution.\">search\u200b warrant<\/a> that led to \u200da standoff with\u2064 the suspects\u2014Elmer Smith (19), Jack Upchurch (40),\u2063 and Wendy Scott (16)\u2014who\u2062 eventually surrendered without incident. All three face first<a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">-degree murder charges<\/a>, among other\u2064 offenses,\u200b and are being held at the Pima County Adult Detention Center.<\/p>\n<p>In a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/maui-fire-survivor-puts-biden-on-blast-what-kind-of-president-does-that\/\" title=\"Maui fire survivor slams Biden: &#039;What kind of president is he?&#039;\">heartfelt response<\/a> to the tragedy, Clifford&#8217;s\u200c family\u200c expressed\u200b their \u2063grief and \u2062desire for justice. \u2063His daughter described him as a &#8220;gentle\u200d giant&#8221; with a caring heart,while \u200bhis \u200cwidow recalled \u2062his sincere desire to help the man in \u2063need,despite her protests.\u200d The community has\u200c shown support for Clifford\u2019s family through fundraising \u2064efforts.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Three people have been arrested in connection with the Christmas Eve murder of an Arizona man.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As Paul Clifford, 53, and his family were celebrating in their home in Pima County, a man, who has since been arrested, came to the door at about 1:20 a.m., according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fox10phoenix.com\/news\/three-arrested-connection-good-samaritans-death-pima-county\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">KSAZ-TV<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cow-still-at-large-after-breaking-free-from-slaughter-spotted-abiding-traffic-laws\/\" title=\"Cow Still At Large After Breaking Free From Slaughter, Spotted Abiding Traffic Laws\">man asked<\/a> for help with his car, and Clifford thought he would be a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/good-samaritan-killed-trying-help-stranded-car-accident-victim-shows-character\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">good Samaritan<\/a> and help.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He never came home.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In time, his body was found near a smoldering car.<\/p>\n<p> <script type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\tif ( getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"stnvideo\").remove() \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Pima County Sheriff&rsquo;s Department investigated and, on Monday, moved in on three suspects.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&ldquo;PCSD Homicide Detectives obtained a search warrant for the property, and the Pima Regional SWAT Team served the warrant at the indicated location,&rdquo; the department said.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&ldquo;The suspects barricaded themselves inside the residence and eventually called 9-1-1 to negotiate a surrender. All three suspects exited the residence and were taken into custody without further incident.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Elmer Smith, 19, Jack Upchurch, 40, and Wendy Scott, 16, were all <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/horror-tracks-man-arrested-attempted-murder-random-passerby-pushed-front-subway-train\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">arrested<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The three were locked up in the Pima County Adult Detention Center, according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.azcentral.com\/story\/news\/local\/arizona\/2024\/12\/31\/three-arrests-made-in-good-samaritan-tucson-area-death\/77360893007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Arizona Republic<\/a>. All three suspects face first-degree murder charges, as well as other charges, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kvoa.com\/news\/crime\/three-suspects-identified-in-redington-homicide\/article_14785504-c7a7-11ef-a79c-2f83cf84f4d4.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">KVOA<\/a>.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">UPDATE: Pima County Sheriffs Department says suspects are in custody related to murder of Paul Clifford after a standoff tonight. PCSD says more details will be released tomorrow. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/KVOA?\">@KVOA<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/darR2PNmGf\">pic.twitter.com\/darR2PNmGf<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Chorus Nylander KVOA (@CNylanderKVOA) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CNylanderKVOA\/status\/1873974633244090595?\">December 31, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gofundme.com\/f\/support-for-paul-cliffords-family-after-tragedy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">GoFundMe post<\/a>, Sabrina Vining, who said she was Clifford&rsquo;s daughter, remembered her father as a &ldquo;gentle giant&rdquo; with a &ldquo;huge, caring heart.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&ldquo;[W]e are praying for swift justice,&rdquo; she wrote.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&ldquo;I feel so empty. We planned to grow old together, live into our 90s, and die of old age,&rdquo; said Christina Clifford, Paul&rsquo;s widow, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.12news.com\/article\/news\/local\/arizona\/paul-clifford-family-gives-first-interview-since-brutal-murder-pima-county-arizona\/75-e7845fc0-db1d-49c0-82a3-8c8b919286f0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">KPNX<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She recalled her <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/good-samaritan-tries-break-subway-fight-ends-knife-slash-entire-face\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/heres-who-could-replace-biden-as-democratic-nominee-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Here\u2019s who could replace Biden as Democratic nominee - Washington Examiner\">husband&#038;rsquo<\/a>;s response<\/a> when he was asked for help.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The man seeking assistance &ldquo;sounded nothing but sincere, &lsquo;Please, I broke down. I can&rsquo;t get any help. I just need a jump. Will you please help me,&rsquo;&rdquo; she recalled.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Her husband could not be talked out of helping.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&ldquo;I said, &lsquo;No, don&rsquo;t go. We can call somebody.&rsquo; He said, &lsquo;No, nobody is coming to help them. I need to help them,&rsquo; and went out the door,&rdquo; she said.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! ( opts[inputs[i]]=document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"' + inputs[i] + '\"]' ).value ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .required-message' ).style.display='block'; \t\t\t\t\t\treturn; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction input[type=\"submit\"]' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).src=firefly_loading_gif_url; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='inline-block';  \t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( 'ma subbing' );  \t\t\t\t\tif( firefly_post_id ) opts['post_id']=firefly_post_id;  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Send the data using post with element id name and name2*\/ \t\t\t\t\tvar posting=jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, opts );  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Alerts the results *\/ \t\t\t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif( response.success ) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( response.data ); \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-confirm' ).style.display='block';  \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataLayer.push( { 'event': 'submit-correction' } ); \t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> \t     \t\t\t\t\t\t     \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><script>console.log(\"ad slot (BA1)\")<\/script> \t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<style> \t\t\t \t\t\t.insticator-unit.type-commenting{margin: 0 10px 25px 10px}@media screen and (max-width:1060px){#div-insticator-ad-cmt-1, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-2, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-3, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-4{margin: 0 auto 25px auto !important;}}#div-insticator-ad-cmt-1, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-2, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-3, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-4{height: 280px !important; width: 336px !important} \t\t<\/style>\n<div class=\"insticator-unit type-commenting\">\n<div class=\"insticator-ads\"> \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t<script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\t\t\tif ( ! getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-1\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-2\"); \t\t\t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-1\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-2\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t<\/script> \t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"insticator-ads additional\"> \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t<script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\t\t\tif ( ! getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-3\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-4\"); \t\t\t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-3\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-4\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t<\/script> \t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Three individuals have been apprehended in relation to the Christmas Eve killing of an Arizona man. While Paul Clifford, 53, was celebrating with his family at their Pima County home, a man\u2014now arrested\u2014knocked on their door around 1:20 a.m., requesting assistance with his vehicle. Clifford decided to help him but never returned home. Eventually, his body was discovered near a burning car. The Pima County Sheriff\u2019s Department conducted an investigation and arrested three suspects after they barricaded themselves in a residence and later surrendered peacefully. Elmer Smith, 19; Jack Upchurch, 40; and Wendy Scott, 16; are all facing first-degree murder charges among others. In a GoFundMe post, Clifford&#8217;s daughter described her father as a &#8220;gentle giant&#8221; who had a &#8220;huge heart,&#8221; expressing hope for swift justice. His widow shared her heartbreak over losing him while recalling how he felt compelled to assist the man at the door despite her objections<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2386257,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Paul-Clifford.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[5175,36508,47879,3976,47880],"class_list":["post-2386256","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-arrest","tag-crime-news","tag-good-samaritan","tag-investigation","tag-smoldering-car"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Paul-Clifford.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2386256","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2386256"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2386256\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2386260,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2386256\/revisions\/2386260"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2386257"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2386256"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2386256"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2386256"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}