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Prescott Double Homicide

prescott policeSedona AZ (January 24, 2015) – The City of Prescott police drove to the 5400 block of Side Road, a remote area in north Prescott, after a relative called expressing concern the homeowner was missing a scheduled appointment. Police made entry into the residence and found two female victims deceased, and an adult male in critical condition. 

Deceased are Anita Wells, 75, mother of the caller and owner of the home, and Jodi Reed, 47. Found in critical condition was a male victim, Mark Potter. Potter was flown to Flagstaff Medical Center and, following surgery, listed in very critical condition. Mr. Potter and Ms. Reed were acquaintances of Ms. Wells, and both resided at her home.

A preliminary investigation determined that Ms. Wells’ vehicle, a red 1996 Mazda Pick-up with a tan camper shell and displaying Arizona License BJC0428, was missing from the home.

While Prescott Police detectives and other local law enforcement agencies followed leads, investigators received information that a Jerry Lee Wells had driven to a Prescott Valley residence and beaten a male acquaintance with a metal pole. The victim, Jason Wolf, 45, drove to the Yavapai County Medical Center for treatment of his injuries and reported the incident.

Jerry Lee Wells, 51, is a son of the Prescott murdered woman, Anita Wells.

Prescott Valley PoliceAt the Prescott Valley victim’s residence, police recovered a metal pole believed the same instrument used to commit the Prescott homicides and inflict Mr. Potter’s injuries.

Jerry Lee Wells also lived at the Side Road residence. Family members advised police, due to unfavorable living conditions and arrangements, Anita Wells recently told her son to find other living arrangements. The focus of the Prescott Police investigation, assisted by the U.S. Marshals Service Task Force, Prescott Valley Police Department and the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office, quickly shifted to finding Jerry Lee Wells.

Detectives learned the deceased Ms. Wells credit card was in use in the Phoenix area. The U.S. Marshal Service Task Force and Phoenix Police Department assisted in tracking recent credit card transactions and, using surveillance, located Jerry Wells driving his deceased mother’s Mazda pick-up and entering a Phoenix hotel at 8100 North Black Canyon Highway.

Arrested without incident about 10:15 p.m. on January 23, 2015, Jerry Lee Wells implicated himself as the assailant in the murder of his mother and Reed, and the assaults of Potter and Wolf, and booked into the Maricopa County Jail on four felony counts of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, and two counts of Premeditated Murder.

Cooperation between Arizona law enforcement agencies enabled this murder suspect’s apprehension within twelve hours of the Prescott report. The double murder and assault investigations are continuing at the various crime scenes.

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