In the quiet community of Mohave Valley, Arizona, the life of 33-year-old Matthew Brant Cemper was cut short on the night of March 29, 2024. Deputies from the Mohave County Sheriff's Office were called to a property on South Tropics Road just before midnight, where they discovered Cemper deceased. The circumstances of his death were immediately treated as a homicide, prompting an intensive investigation into the events that led to the tragic end of a young man's life.
He was a male.
As detectives delved into the case, a suspect emerged: 31-year-old Michael Edward Kelso of Bullhead City. With a suspect identified, law enforcement agencies began the search for Kelso, who was considered armed and dangerous. To aid in his capture, Mohave Silent Witness offered a reward for information leading to his whereabouts. The community was on alert as the search for the man suspected of ending Matthew Cemper's life continued.
The manhunt for Michael Edward Kelso concluded on May 28, 2024, when he was located and apprehended by U.S. Marshals in Williams, Arizona. His arrest was made without incident, bringing a significant development in the investigation into Cemper's death. Kelso was subsequently booked into the Coconino County Detention Facility, awaiting his return to Mohave County to face charges of second-degree murder and possession of a weapon by a prohibited person.
