A fugitive wanted for the attempted murder of his estranged wife over 40 years ago has been captured after assuming a dead man’s identity for decades, the Justice Department revealed.
Stephen Craig Campbell, 76, managed to evade authorities for years under a different identity, fraudulently claiming around $140,000 in retired social security benefits. He was arrested in New Mexico last week during an armed standoff with police who found nearly 60 weapons at his residence.
The alleged swindler was on the run for planting a booby-trapped toolbox rigged with explosives outside the Wyoming home of his estranged wife’s boyfriend in 1982. The explosion caused severe injuries and property damage.
Campbell was initially arrested and charged with attempted first-degree murder in 1982 but disappeared after posting bail. He assumed the identity of Walter Lee Coffman, who died in 1975, to evade capture.
Campbell applied for a passport under Coffman's name in 1984 and renewed it multiple times, using a fraudulent Social Security card. His scheme began to unravel in 2019 when authorities discovered the decades-long fraudulent use of Coffman's identity.
During a search of his property in Weed, New Mexico, Campbell was armed and positioned to resist arrest. Authorities found 57 firearms and large quantities of ammunition, leading to his detainment and confirmation of his true identity.
Campbell appeared in federal court in New Mexico on fraud charges and faces up to 10 years in prison before extradition to Wyoming for trial. The Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office is ensuring his return to Wyoming once federal proceedings conclude.
The dramatic capture of Campbell marks the end of a long and complex case that had stumped law enforcement for decades, highlighting the persistence and dedication of authorities in pursuing justice.
