Cold Cases
The Mesa Police Department is reinvestigating unsolved homicides, also known as "cold cases." This site is an attempt to reach out to the members of our community and develop leads and information that will aid in the identification, arrest and prosecution of the person or persons responsible for these crimes.
The Mesa Police Department is asking for your help in solving the city's unsolved homicides. The following is a synopsis of cold case homicides for the City of Mesa. If you have information that would assist us in solving these senseless deaths, please contact the Mesa Police Department using one of these options:
Cold Case Victim's Representative Registration
Mesa cold case detectives are responsible for any case that remains unsolved for one year or more. These cases have been reported AND have no viable and unexplored investigatory leads.
The Homicide and Felony Sexual Offense Cold Case Registry is for the victim's family or other lawful representatives of a victim, pursuant to Arizona Revised Statutes 13-4271. These individuals can ask to be included in the registry.
Registrants will be provided the following:
- The contact information for the law enforcement agency.
- Information on any new developments with the cold case.
This registry provides a method for families to designate a primary family contact and that family representative will be notified if there is a new development in the case. It is helpful to have one primary family contact who relays information to the rest of the family. Please discuss with your family and determine who the primary contact is going to be.
Complete either of the forms below to register for the Mesa Police Department’s Homicide or Felony Sexual Offense Cold Case Registry.
Submissions will be reviewed to ensure the requestor is a family member or lawful representative. The person will then receive notification of their inclusion once the request has been approved.
Cold Case Files
Date of Homicide: September 19, 2022
Location: 825 S. Alma School Rd.
On Tuesday, September 20, 2022 at 3:21 a.m., Mesa Police officers responded to a call of an unresponsive male in the grass area of 825 S. Alma School Rd. The victim was located and he did not survive an injury he sustained. Investigators were able to determine some of the victim’s personal property was missing. A unique item missing was a Sprayground Angry Bear backpack. Investigators are seeking any information regarding this incident.
Date of Homicide: August 6, 1994 (Saturday)
Location: 1233 S. Gilbert Rd - Fry's Grocery Store
On the above date at 12:11 a.m., the listed suspects started a fight with several subjects at the above location. Suspect #2, pictured at left, allegedly pulled a gun and fired it, killing one subject. The suspects got into the listed vehicle and were last seen westbound on Hampton from the shopping center parking lot. Anyone with information is asked to call Silent Witness.
Suspect #1: Hispanic male; 20 to 26 years old; 5' 8" tall; 120 to 130 lbs.; thin build; black or dark brown shoulder-length curly hair, bushy at bottom; moustache; goatee.
Suspect #2 (composite): Hispanic male; 16 to 17 years old; 6' to 6' 2" tall; 160 to 165 lbs.; thin build; dark brown or black hair shaved close on the sides and combed straight back; possibly a light moustache.
Vehicle: 1972 to 1976 Chevrolet full-size pickup, primer gray color, red Arizona license plate.
Name: Vernon Bowman
Date of Homicide: July 11, 1983 (Monday)
Location: 1900 block of W. Lindner
The Mesa Police Department is investigating the brutal death of 48-year-old Vernon Bowman, whose body was found in his residence. Vernon had a small circle of friends and one or more of his friends may have information related to this investigation.
Name: Mindi Chambers
Date Last Seen: October 19, 1982 (Tuesday)
Location: 2100 block of E. University
The Mesa Police Department is investigating the disappearance of 17-year-old Mindi Chambers, who was last seen walking her step-sister to school. She was not reported missing until April 17, 1995. One of her high school friends may have information related to her disappearance.
Top photo is when she disappeared. Bottom photo is what she may look like today.
Name: Yvone E. Rettig
Date of Homicide: January 31, 2004 (Saturday)
Location: 7700 block of E. Frito
The Mesa Police Department is investigating the homicide of 39-year-old Yvone E. Rettig, whose body was found in her residence.
Name: Pamela Newton
Date of Homicide: April 11, 1978 (Tuesday)
Location: 200 S. and 2500 W. (railroad track)
The Mesa Police Department is investigating the homicide of 13-year-old Pamela Newton, whose body was found near the railroad tracks in West Mesa.
Name: Rondell Echoles
Name: Tyrone Phillips
Date of Homicide: June 6, 2006 (Tuesday)
Location: 900 block of S. Dobson
The Mesa Police Department is investigating the homicide of 25-year-old Rondell Echoles and 27-year-old Tyrone Phillips, who were found in an apartment deceased.
Name: Frances O'Donnell
Date of Homicide: June 22, 1999 (Wednesday)
Location: 400 block of N. Hibbert
The Mesa Police Department is investigating the death of 21-year-old Frances O'Donnell whose body was found in her residence. The composite sketch is a description given to police by witnesses who saw this person leaving the victim's residence shortly before she was found.
Note: This composite sketch is a similarity composite of the person seen on June 22, 1988 and may not reflect this person's physical characteristics of today.
Name: Loretta Lynn
Date of Homicide: June 14, 1988 (Tuesday)
Location: 4700 block of E. Camino St.
The Mesa Police Department is investigating the death of 26-year-old Loretta Lynn whose body was found in her residence.