Richard William Ward, a 40-year-old man from Las Vegas, would often make the 100-mile journey to Golden Valley, Arizona. He had purchased property in the rural area between Bullhead City and Kingman and was in the process of building a house, frequently spending several days at a time working on it. His wife, Jessica Cottrill, later recounted these trips, noting his dedication to the project.
On the evening of February 25, 2024, at approximately 8 p.m., a 911 call led Mohave County
Sheriff's deputies to Naco Road, a dirt road in Golden Valley. There, they discovered Richard William Ward unconscious and suffering from a gunshot wound. Despite attempts by emergency responders to revive him, Ward succumbed to his injuries at the scene. His wife believes he was shot multiple times. The circumstances leading up to the shooting remain unclear.
The Mohave County Sheriff's Office is investigating the death as a homicide, but as of March 2024, no arrests had been made, and no suspects had been publicly identified. Ward's family, devastated by the loss of a man described as a loving husband of 22 years and a father to two adult children, has been left with many unanswered questions. Frustrated by the limited information provided by law enforcement, they have offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. This amount is supplemented by an additional $1,500 from the Mohave County Silent Witness program.
