Fugitive Wanted in 1982 Home Bombing Evaded Capture by Assuming Dead Classmate’s Identity, Officials Say
A 76-year-old man who went into hiding following a 1982 bombing and allegedly assumed the identity of his dead college classmate was arrested this month at his home in New Mexico after a standoff with law enforcement.
The suspect, Stephen Craig Campbell, is facing charges of misuse of a passport and is being held pending trial. He was ordered to be held without bond after a federal court ruled him a flight risk.
Campbell was wanted for attempted first-degree murder after he allegedly planted an explosive device in a toolbox outside the Wyoming home of his estranged wife’s boyfriend in 1982. The bomb exploded when the wife opened the toolbox, severing her finger and causing other injuries.
The blast also ignited a fire at the home and a neighboring residence. Campbell was taken into custody after the bombing and was reportedly released on bond in 1983, but he failed to show up for a court appearance and went into hiding.
An investigation revealed that Campbell assumed the identity of Walter Lee Coffman, who died in 1975 at the age of 22. Campbell and Coffman both attended the University of Arkansas to study engineering, and authorities believe there was a connection between the two due to their shared alma mater.
Campbell used Coffman’s identity to obtain a passport, a Social Security card, and purchase property in Weed, New Mexico. The ruse began to unravel in September 2019 when Campbell renewed his driver’s license in Cloudcroft, New Mexico, using Coffman’s name.
Authorities obtained an arrest warrant for Campbell and tracked him down to his 44-acre property in New Mexico, where he was found armed with a rifle and positioned in an elevated, partially concealed spot. After a standoff, Campbell emerged and was detained.
A total of 60 firearms and large quantities of ammunition were found on his property. Campbell is facing charges of misuse of a passport, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. A trial date has not yet been set.
FAQs
* Who is Stephen Craig Campbell?
+ A 76-year-old man wanted for attempted first-degree murder in connection with a 1982 bombing.
* When did the bombing occur?
+ 1982
* What was the outcome of the bombing?
+ The bomb exploded, severing the victim’s finger and causing other injuries, and igniting a fire at the home and a neighboring residence.
* What did Campbell do after the bombing?
+ He went into hiding and assumed the identity of his dead college classmate, Walter Lee Coffman.
* When was Campbell arrested?
+ February 19, 2023
* What charges is Campbell facing?
+ Misuse of a passport, with the possibility of additional charges pending
* What is the maximum sentence for misuse of a passport?
+ 10 years in prison
