Con Man Charged With Gunning Down 82-Year-old Grandmother Before Fleeing to Another State
Share this @internewscast.com

A convicted Arizona con man was tracked down in Utah and charged with the murder of his former neighbor earlier this year.

According to court documents, the body of 82-year-old Linda Baran was discovered on February 11 in the backseat of her car located in her garage, as reported by KPHO. Furniture in the home indicated a struggle had occurred, and investigators noted that Baran was shot while her hands were raised in a gesture of surrender.

Derek Bollwinkel was arrested last week after he was extradited from Salt Lake City. Police did not say how he was tracked down.

Authorities stated that Baran and Bollwinkel had been neighbors until his eviction from his residence approximately three weeks before the murder. Detectives reported that Bollwinkel had been harassing Baran for money and used her debit card to withdraw $4,000 from an ATM shortly after the murder.

Court documents further reveal that Bollwinkel parked his van near Baran’s home around 6:15 p.m. on February 9, the last day she was seen alive. He was observed fleeing from the residence and driving away around 7 p.m., and began attempting to use her debit card approximately 15 minutes later.

According to KPNX, police found Baran’s body when her family requested a welfare check on February 11.

“Our family is relieved that the suspect in the callous murder of our mother is in custody and can no longer be a threat to the public,” Baran’s family said in a statement. “We appreciate the dedicated work and support of the Mesa Police Department, Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, and the US Marshal’s Office and look forward to justice being served.  We ask that our privacy be respected as we continue to grieve.”

Bollwinkel has been charged with first degree murder, kidnapping, armed robbery, and first degree burglary, KPHO said. He’s being held on a $1 million bond.

Bollwinkel was convicted in 2014 of ripping dozens of people off in a fraudulent “house sitting program.” He and his wife, who participated in the scheme, were hit with a $2.1 million judgement in civil court.

He was also arrested in 2018 and convicted of a similar scheme that involved forgery and criminal impersonation.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Police Report Fatal Incident at Ace Hardware: Motorcyclist Struck and Killed

Background: The scene of the tragic incident at an Ace Hardware store…

Gainesville Woman Detained for Shoplifting from Walmart to Sell to Acquaintances

Staff report GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Authorities took Shirley Ann Williams, 67, into…

Tragic Incident Involving Siblings Results in Fatal Confrontation

Share copy link Background: The 1200 block of Bliss Drive in Bellefontaine…

Mother Streams Live Video Before Attempting to Harm Herself and Children: District Attorney Reports

Shaniece Willingham (Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office). A Florida mother allegedly attempted to…

Fire Chief Allegedly Instructs Sons to Assault Man in His Swimming Pool: Police

Left to right: John Guzie Jr., John Guzie Sr. and Tanner Guzie…

Dad Confesses to Shooting Man on Suburban Road, Claims It Wasn’t Murder

A father has admitted he gunned down another man in a suburban…

District Attorney Reports: 9-Year-Old Discovers Father’s Rifle and Fatally Shoots 5-Year-Old Sister

Left inset: Irvin Eduardo Ramos-Jimenez (Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office). Right inset: Layla…

Confirmed: Decomposed Body Discovered on Mountain Identified as Travis Decker Through DNA Testing

Authorities in Washington revealed on Thursday that human remains found last week…

Father’s Anger Over Lost Vape Results in Newborn’s Brain Damage: Police

Inset: Hunter Dalton (Whitehall Police Dept.). Background: The apartment complex where Dalton…

Convicted Killer Forcefully Removed from Sydney Courtroom After Being Found Guilty

A murderer has left court in an ambulance after being convicted of…

Tragic Incident at Gas Station: Man Fatally Shoots Wife During Custody Exchange

Inset: Sydney Emmanuel Davis Jr. (Shelby Township Police Department). Background: The Meijer…

10-Year-Old Girl with Autism Passes Away After Being Kept in Bed: Police

Left: Heather Cross. Right: Darcy Cross (Crow Wing County Jail). A Minnesota…