Stephen Craig Campbell’s 40-Year Identity Fraud and Capture for Attempted Murder

(LibertySociety.com) – After more than four decades on the run, Stephen Craig Campbell’s life of deception and crime has come to a dramatic end in New Mexico.

At a Glance

Stephen Craig Campbell captured after 40 years of evading authorities using a stolen identity.
In 1982, he allegedly injured his ex-wife with a trap meant to kill, leading to severe injuries and house fires.
Campbell assumed a deceased man’s identity and defrauded social security of $140,000.
He was finally apprehended in a New Mexico compound, heavily armed but arrested peacefully.

The 1982 Crime and Disappearance

In early 1982, Stephen Craig Campbell, then a young man in Wyoming, set out to harm his estranged wife, allegedly planting explosives in a toolbox. This act led to significant harm to his ex-wife and the destruction of property due to fire. Campbell was charged with attempted first-degree murder, but he managed to escape after posting bail.

Utilizing a cunning strategy, he adopted the identity of Walter Lee Coffman, a deceased classmate, and used this new identity to evade authorities for decades.

Life on the Run

Campbell’s assumed identity allowed him to build a seemingly normal life. He lived under his new name and manipulated the system to acquire a U.S. passport and Social Security card, garnering about $140,000 in unwarranted benefits. For years, he remained one step ahead of law enforcement.

“Campbell’s wanted poster has been on the wall at our office since I started here nearly 20 years ago,” – Jason Mower

Authorities did not give up. Various agencies, including the FBI and Social Security Administration, continued the search with renewed vigor, aided by modern technology and forensic advances.

The Capture in New Mexico

The unraveling of Campbell’s elaborate deception began when fraudulent documents triggered suspicions in 2019. Subsequent investigations located him in New Mexico, living in a secluded compound under his assumed identity.

“The reality is that you’re not going to get away with a crime, especially of this nature. Even if it is 40 years later, we will find you” – Special Agent Bujanda

Law enforcement confronted Campbell in his compound where he possessed a high-powered rifle and a stash of 57 firearms. However, he was taken into custody without gunfire following the use of tactical flash-bangs.