On Dec. 26, a 16-year-old boy came to the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office’s eastern substation and reported that he wanted to turn himself in for “killing a man.”

The suspect reported that on or about Nov. 28, in a remote area of Camp Verde, he shot the 62-year-old victim, leaving the deceased man in the wilderness.

YCSO detectives were called out to interview the suspect, who later took the detectives to a remote area in the desert off Salt Mine Road, where they found a deceased man.

The teen stated that he had contacted the victim, who was known to the suspect’s family, after allegedly finding out the man was trying to “get with his 14-year-old sister.”

The suspect wanted to confront the victim, so he asked the victim to pick him up in Camp Verde under the guise of a hunting trip. The two then drove out to Salt Mine Road where the suspect allegedly confronted the
victim, subsequently shooting and killing him.

The suspect stated that he took all the guns from the victim’s car before abandoning it and ditched one of the guns in the desert while walking home, which has been retrieved by YCSO. He then took the remaining guns to his home.

On Christmas Day, a family member went into the suspect’s bedroom and found a gun. When confronted, the suspect reportedly admitted to his family that he killed the victim, and subsequently turned himself in to deputies on the following day.

The name of the victim is not yet being released pending positive identification by next of kin.

YCSO detectives are continuing to investigate the details of the case and will provide updates as information is available.