A man wanted for attempted first-degree murder after he allegedly planted a bomb that injured his estranged wife in 1982 has finally been arrested.
According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico, Stephen Craig Campbell, now 76, was apprehended in Weed, N.M., on Feb. 19, after being on the run for over four decades.
An investigation showed that Campbell allegedly used the identity of Walter Lee Coffman, who died in 1975 at the age of 22, to evade authorities and fraudulently obtain government benefits.
The investigation showed a likely connection between Campbell and Coffman as they both pursued engineering degrees at the University of Arkansas during the same period.
Stephen Craig Campbell.
U.S. Marshals
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Campbell was arrested in Wyoming in 1982 for attempted first-degree murder after he allegedly planted an explosive device at the doorstep of his estranged wife’s boyfriend.
His wife allegedly ended up opening a toolbox containing the bomb, which exploded and caused her to lose a finger and suffer other injuries. The blast allegedly also set fire to the residence and a neighboring unit.
While he was reportedly released on bond in 1983, he failed to appear in court, resulting in an active warrant for attempted first-degree murder. He was also facing a federal firearm charge in connection with that incident, per ABC News.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office claims that Campbell first applied for a passport under Coffman’s name in 1984 and renewed it multiple times, providing a photograph of himself. Campbell also allegedly obtained a replacement Social Security card in Coffman’s name in 1995 using an Oklahoma driver’s license in Coffman’s name.
Stephen Craig Campbell allegedly applied for passport under Walter Lee Coffman’s name.
U.S. Attorney’s Office District of New Mexico
When Campbell relocated to Weed around 2003, he allegedly purchased property in Coffman’s name. He reportedly used his New Mexico address while renewing his passport under Coffman’s name in 2005 and 2015, with an updated photograph every time.
While he was able to renew his driver’s license in New Mexico in September 2019, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said that it was then that agents from the National Passport Center’s Fraud Prevention Unit discovered Coffman’s death and the suspected fraudulent use of his identity.
The investigation additionally showed that Campbell had allegedly been awarded Social Security Title II Retirement Insurance Benefits of approximately $140,000 under Coffman’s name.
Stephen Craig Campbell allegedly applied for passport with Walter Lee Coffman’s name.
U.S. Attorney’s Office District of New Mexico
After authorities obtained warrants for Campbell’s arrest and to search his 44-acre property, he allegedly greeted them “dressed in camouflage, hearing protection and armed with a scoped .302 caliber FAL rifle,” per ABC News, citing a detention memo filed in federal court in New Mexico.
After Campbell was detained, fingerprints confirmed his true identity and a subsequent search of the property led to the discovery of 57 firearms and large quantities of ammunition.
He was charged with misuse of a passport and will remain in custody pending trial.
While he also still faces his 1982 charges, the press release notes that investigators are evaluating the possibility of additional charges.
