In the quiet desert town of Wellton, Arizona, a tragic story unfolded, forever marking a dark day in its history. James P. Simpson, a 75-year-old male, found himself tragically caught in a web of bitterness and revenge that would ultimately claim his life. His death was not an isolated incident but part of a horrific shooting spree that left several people dead at the hands of a single gunman.
The perpetrator of this violence was identified as 73-year-old Carey Hal Dyess.
The motive for his rampage appeared to be rooted in a contentious divorce from his fifth ex-wife, 61-year-old Theresa Lorraine Sigurdson. James Simpson was a friend of Sigurdson and had offered her support during the difficult proceedings of her divorce. This act of friendship seemingly placed him in the path of a man consumed by anger and a desire for retribution.
On the morning of June 2, 2011, Carey Hal Dyess embarked on a deadly course of action. He systematically targeted individuals he associated with his ex-wife and their divorce. In his violent spree, Dyess shot and killed five people in total. The victims included his ex-wife, Theresa Lorraine Sigurdson, her attorney, Jerrold Shelley, and three of her friends, one of whom was James Simpson. After carrying out these brutal acts, Dyess fled the scene. However, his rampage came to an end when he was found by law enforcement in his vehicle, having died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
As the suspect took his own life, no arrests were made in connection with the deaths. The community was left to grapple with the senseless loss of life and the devastating impact of a personal vendetta that spiraled into a public tragedy. James Simpson, a man who stood by a friend in her time of need, became an innocent victim in a violent and tragic chain of events.
