On December 23, 2017, a holiday gathering in Mesa, Arizona turned tragic, resulting in the deaths of three people. Forty-seven-year-old Jill Gifford, a White/Caucasian female, was among the victims of the violence that erupted that day. The incident, which unfolded at her grandfather's home, also claimed the lives of her 67-year-old ex-husband, Bruce Gifford Sr., and her 45-year-old companion, Benjamin Childs.
Jill Gifford and Benjamin Childs had gone to the Mesa residence to celebrate
Christmas. Bruce Gifford Sr. was already present at the house when the couple arrived. An altercation broke out between Bruce Gifford Sr. and the couple, though the specific details of the dispute remain unclear. The confrontation escalated with fatal consequences.
Mesa police responded to a call of shots fired at the home around 2:30 p.m. Upon their arrival, officers discovered the bodies of Jill Gifford, Bruce Gifford Sr., and Benjamin Childs. All three had sustained fatal gunshot wounds. The subsequent investigation led authorities to conclude that the incident was a murder-suicide.
Investigators believe that Bruce Gifford Sr. shot and killed both Jill Gifford and Benjamin Childs before turning the gun on himself. With the primary suspect deceased, the case is considered solved. The investigation was ongoing pending the results from the Medical Examiner's Office.
