On June 28, 2022, 50-year-old Darren Van Houten, a Caucasian male, and his 73-year-old partner, Retta Atkins, were found deceased in their home on Dilligaf Road, east of Kingman, Arizona. The discovery was made by law enforcement officers who were conducting a welfare check. It was determined that both Van Houten and Atkins were the victims of a double homicide. Atkins was the well-known owner of The Gold Lady, a gold prospecting and mining equipment business in Golden Valley.
Van Houten, originally from O'Neill, Nebraska, had moved to Arizona.
The investigation into the double homicide led authorities to a suspect, 25-year-old Daniel Avila from El Mirage. Avila was already in custody in Maricopa County for an unrelated home invasion that occurred in Tempe. A crucial piece of evidence linking Avila to the Kingman murders was a firearm found in his possession during the Tempe arrest. Ballistics testing confirmed that it was the same weapon used to kill Van Houten and Atkins.
Further evidence came from the victims' home surveillance system. The footage showed a suspect with what appeared to be an injury to his left shoulder. When detectives questioned Avila, they observed scarring on his left shoulder area that was consistent with a gunshot wound. Authorities believe Avila had no prior connection to either Van Houten or Atkins. An arrest warrant was issued for Avila, charging him with two counts of first-degree murder.
Ultimately, Daniel Avila entered into a plea agreement, and the first-degree murder charges were amended to second-degree murder. In January 2025, a judge sentenced Avila to two consecutive 25-year prison terms for the murders of Darren Van Houten and Retta Atkins. During the sentencing, the court heard about Avila's troubled past, including a difficult childhood and substance abuse issues. In a statement to the court, Avila expressed remorse for his actions, stating, 'Two human beings that did not deserve to die. I killed two people who have family and friends who will never see them again.' Family members of the victims also spoke, describing their profound loss and grief.
