In the fall of 1973, the life of 18-year-old Steven Allan Loughran was tragically cut short in a senseless act of violence. On October 21, while hitchhiking near Monterey Bay, he was picked up by Douglas Gretzler and Willie Steelman. Unaware of his new companions' violent tendencies, Loughran agreed to travel with them to Phoenix, Arizona, even contributing money for gasoline.
Upon their arrival in Phoenix, the three found their way to the home of some acquaintances.
The atmosphere soon became tense, fueled by drinking and drug use. A physical altercation erupted between Loughran and Steelman on October 23, in which Loughran, a larger man, reportedly got the better of Steelman. This confrontation proved to be a fatal turning point. Following the fight, Steelman armed himself with a shotgun.
Under the pretense of going for a drive, Gretzler and Steelman coerced Loughran into a vehicle and drove him to a desolate area near the Superstition Mountains. There, at gunpoint, they forced him out of the car, robbed him of his wallet, and ordered him to crawl into a sleeping bag. Once he complied, Steelman shot him in the head. The murder of Steven Loughran was one of several violent crimes committed by Gretzler and Steelman during their spree. Both men were later apprehended by law enforcement, and their capture brought the full scope of their horrific actions to light. They were subsequently convicted for their roles in the multiple homicides they committed. The case of Steven Allan Loughran is a harrowing example of a chance encounter that ended in a brutal and senseless murder, one of many violent acts perpetrated by two men on a crime spree.
