On June 28, 2022, 50-year-old Darren VanHouten, a Caucasian male, and his 73-year-old partner, Retta Atkins, were found deceased in their home on Dilligaf Road, located east of Kingman, Arizona. Law enforcement discovered their bodies while conducting a welfare check at the residence. The investigation that followed determined that both VanHouten and Atkins were the victims of a double homicide. VanHouten, who was originally from O'Neill, Nebraska, had moved to Arizona.
Detectives with the Mohave County Sheriff's Office launched an investigation into the deaths. Their efforts led them to identify Daniel Matthew Avila, a 25-year-old from El Mirage, as a suspect in the killings. Avila was already in custody in Maricopa County on unrelated charges for a home invasion in Tempe. A significant breakthrough in the case came from ballistic testing. A firearm found in Avila's possession at the time of his arrest in Tempe was matched to the bullets recovered from the scene of the murders in Kingman.
Further evidence implicating Avila came from surveillance footage from the victims' home. The footage showed a suspect with an apparent injury to his left shoulder. When detectives observed Avila, they noted scarring on his left shoulder area that was consistent with the injury seen in the surveillance video. Authorities have stated that they do not believe Avila had any known connection to VanHouten or Atkins, and a motive for the killings has not been publicly disclosed.
In March 2023, an arrest warrant was issued for Daniel Avila, charging him with two counts of first-degree murder. Later, Avila entered into a plea agreement, and the charges were amended to second-degree murder. Following his guilty plea, a judge sentenced Avila to the maximum punishment of two consecutive 25-year prison terms, resulting in a total sentence of 50 years. During the sentencing, Avila apologized to the victims' families, expressing regret for his actions.
