Comments on: Coconino County Cold Cases Need Help

By: Jeff

Jeff — Sun, 29 Oct 2023 04:48:28 +0000

Around August 12, 1974 I was 16 years old. I was hitchhiking from Pittsburgh, PA to Reno, Nevada. Wanted to stay north I-70, I-80 but due to a rainstorm in Indiana and a guy who stopped took me (and another hitchhiker I met on the road) to Joplin, MO. From Joplin down I-44 to I-40. That’s how I ended up on I-40.

As I mentioned, there were 2 of us. I met the other hitchhiker in Ohio and we parted company around Flagstaff or Kingman as he was headed to LA and me to Reno. I remember the date because the night before I left Pittsburgh, I remember president Nixon giving his “I shall resign the Presidency effective tomorrow at noon (which was Aug 4, 1974).

Here’s what happened. A driver picked us up together somewhere east of Flagstaff as we were headed west. This is the area where I needed to part company with my buddy because the guy driving the car told him he needed to get out at a particular spot because that would be the best place for him to get a ride to LA. He said he’d take me to another location where I could head to Reno. So now it’s only 2 of us in the car, the driver and myself. Something just didn’t feel right to me about this and at some point I tried the door and noticed the door handle was disconnected and I couldn’t open the door. The window wouldn’t roll down either. I was trapped and I began to get scared. I was in the front seat and my backpack was in the rear seat. I had a hatchet in my backpack and I was considering jumping into the back seat to get my hatchet and bust out a window (or the driver’s head if necessary). I think the guy knew that I was upset and he pulled over and let me out in the middle of nowhere. I was just glad to get out of there alive.

I’m 65 now and I still remember that frightening event. If this driver’s MO has come to the attention of law enforcement and they would like to talk to me, I would be willing to help.

By: Ariel

Ariel — Mon, 10 Oct 2022 22:35:00 +0000

My grandma was Penny Rodriguez, she was found off of forest service road 300 off of the turn off for baker lake. One of the last places she was seen alive was at Happy Valley Cafe at a payphone wearing a tank top, shorts and sandals and she had brown hair. We were told a man asked her where she was heading and she told him Tempe and he thought it was strange since of what she was wearing and it being cold outside but he couldn’t remember if he called DPS or not, this man is not to be believed as a suspect. However if anyone has any information on this case or knows anything about why or how my grandma, Penny Rodriguez was up in the area, please contact me through email (Note: SedonaEye.com editor removed Ariel’s email address and suggests calling the Coconino County Sheriff’s office or visit the Coconino County Cold Case Facebook page if you have questions or information to share).

By: Katie

Katie — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 11:45:19 +0000

I lived in Flagstaff in 1987. Ina Langstaff was my next door neighbor. I did not know her except for a friendly neighbor wave occasionally. I shared a house with four friends. We threw a huge party. I woke up in the morning to detectives at our door informing us of her murder. She was still in the alley at that time. I actually saw her. It was surreal and very sad and scary… Since the murderer has never been caught. Although I understand there is a suspect though.

By: Ron Mason

Ron Mason — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 20:51:12 +0000

A woman by the name of Ina C Langstaff was found stabbed to death in an alley in Plaza Vieja on the west side of the city on November 7, 1987. I am curious as to whether anyone knew her and whether or not she had ever lived in the Seattle WA area as a young teen around 14 or 15 years old. I knew a young woman the victims age. She and I were in 9th grade together at Rose Hill Jr High School. We were close but lost touch soon after. I have searched for her over the years and had come across this news and dread finding out this was her. Please email me with any further details if you knew this particular person. Thank you, Ron Mason ronmason@live.com

By: Desertguy

Desertguy — Mon, 02 Dec 2013 05:48:09 +0000

It’s odd, I was looking for arrest records in Fredonia Arizona and came across this. I’m only 24 but it surprised me that I’ve never heard about this. In a small town you happen to hear everything. I know Coconino County is a large county and the police force is minimal, but they could put more effort in finding out why this case is going cold. A Police Officer was shot a few years back and they put 300 + on the search for the guy (I completely understand the reason, he has many brothers) there was also a man found froze to death barefoot east of town, another hundred yards or so and he would have made it to a warm home. His name is Jeremy Utter, good friend of mine from Cedar City Utah.

The investigation was led to believe he died from the cold (no shit) but brushed it off with no foul play involved. It could have been looked into further. With you fathers case being from 1994 I believe it should defiantly be reopened! The homicide rate is so low here, I don’t see why it cannot be further investigated. This story intrigues me so I would like to join you in your search for the truth. I don’t know where you live you deserve to know the truth. Maybe I will someday contact you for info, what little I presume you have. Thank you and I’m sorry for your loss.

By: melody peterson

melody peterson — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 00:05:23 +0000

Man who was shot to death James Peterson in March 14 1994 was my father ..I recently discovered from outside family members that he was deceased. I never learned what has happen to him He left my mother in 1966 with four kids and pregnant with my sister never to be heard from again. I was researching genenolgy and discovered that he had fathered two more children..I did talk to them but the are closed mouth on what happened to my father only that he killed hisself… this wasn’t my father personality style, and they were to strange about the whole thing. So poking around with the web I have discovered this site stating that his killing is a cold case.. how do I go about finding details or what the story is??? I am the oldest child to this man if he was murdered I would like justice. A lot of time has past ad I owe it to my sisblings to let them know what happened to daddy.