Retta Atkins, a 73-year-old woman, was tragically killed in a double homicide on June 27, 2022, at her home on Dilligaf Road, located in the Hualapai Mountains outside of Kingman, Arizona. She was found deceased the following day along with her longtime boyfriend, 50-year-old Darren VanHouten, after law enforcement conducted a welfare check at the residence.
Atkins, known locally as the 'Gold Lady,' was the owner of The Gold Lady, a business in Golden Valley that specialized in gold prospecting and mining equipment.
The investigation into the murders led authorities to 25-year-old Daniel Avila of El Mirage. Chilling surveillance video from Atkins' home showed a hooded and partially masked man lurking outside the residence on the day of the killings. Investigators were able to connect Avila to the crime scene through ballistic evidence. A firearm found in Avila's possession during an arrest for an unrelated home invasion in Tempe was matched to the bullets recovered from the Kingman murder scene. Further evidence came from the home surveillance footage, which showed the suspect with what appeared to be a gunshot wound to his left shoulder. When detectives questioned Avila, they observed scarring on his left shoulder consistent with such an injury. Authorities have stated that Avila had no known connection to the victims or the Kingman area.
Initially, a couple, Hunter McGuire and Samantha Branek, were sought in connection with the murders and were later found dead themselves. However, the investigation ultimately focused on and led to the arrest of Daniel Avila. In December 2024, Avila entered a plea agreement, pleading guilty to two counts of second-degree murder. The following month, a judge sentenced him to the maximum penalty of 50 years in prison, imposing two consecutive 25-year terms for the murders of Retta Atkins and Darren VanHouten. During the sentencing, Avila apologized to the victims' families, who spoke of their profound loss and grief.
