In the autumn of 2016, a camping trip in the Arizona wilderness ended in a chilling tragedy for 60-year-old Dale Klettke. The male environmental scientist had arranged the trip near Fossil Creek, southeast of Camp Verde, seemingly in an effort to mend a strained relationship with his son, 21-year-old Francis Klettke. The father and son, both residents of Union City, California, were seen by witnesses at their campsite on October 26, 2016.
At the time, they appeared to be getting along and enjoying their trip. However, beneath the surface lay a tumultuous history marked by disagreements and Dale's growing anguish over his son's mental health.
The peaceful facade of the camping trip was shattered on the evening of October 26th when a witness camping nearby heard what sounded like multiple gunshots. The following morning, she noticed that the silver Jeep Liberty belonging to Dale was gone from the campsite. Upon investigating further, she made a gruesome discovery: Dale's body, riddled with ten bullet wounds, was found wrapped inside a bloody tent. Yavapai County Sheriff's Office deputies were dispatched to the scene, and the investigation into the homicide began. With no identification found at the campsite, the Department of Public Safety had to use fingerprint analysis to identify the victim as Dale Klettke.
Detectives quickly focused on the man seen with Dale at the campsite, who matched the description of his son, Francis. Investigators learned that Francis, who had initially traveled to Arizona to get away from his father, had a troubled past, including previous threats made against Dale. On October 29, 2016, Union City police officers located and arrested Francis during a traffic stop. He was found sleeping in his father's SUV and was later extradited to Arizona to face charges for the murder. The investigation uncovered a history of turmoil, with Dale having expressed in a letter his profound sadness and worry for his son's future.
Following his arrest, Francis Klettke was charged with first-degree murder. After questions were raised about his mental state, he underwent evaluation and was eventually declared competent to stand trial. In a surprising turn, a judge set his bond at $200,000, which his mother posted, allowing him to be released pending trial. However, his troubles with the law did not end there. In May 2019, while out on bond, Francis was arrested again, this time for allegedly setting fire to multiple cars and an apartment building in Phoenix. His murder trial for the death of his father was scheduled to begin in January 2020.
