In a quiet northeast Phoenix neighborhood, a tragic scene unfolded, leaving a family and community in shock. Anna Stafford, a 76-year-old female, was discovered deceased in her home on the 7300 block of N. 23rd Place. The grim discovery was made on a Monday morning in December 2017 when her adult son went to check on the welfare of his parents.
Upon entering the residence, the son found both of his parents, Anna and her 77-year-old husband, Ronald Stafford, with apparent gunshot
injuries. Phoenix police officers responded to the home at approximately 8:30 a.m. and initiated an investigation into the devastating event.
Detectives at the scene uncovered evidence suggesting the incident was a murder-suicide. While the investigation remained ongoing, preliminary findings pointed to a somber conclusion within the Stafford home. Neighbors who had known the couple for two decades expressed their shock, remembering them as good people with whom they would occasionally share dinners. The community was left to grapple with the sudden and heartbreaking loss of the elderly couple. No arrests were made in connection with Anna Stafford's death, as the suspect was also deceased.
