In the quiet community of Tucson, Arizona, a devastating series of events unfolded in March of 1988, culminating in the tragic death of 17-year-old Melinda Ann 'Mindy' Peters, a female, and her mother. The grim discovery was made on March 28, 1988, after Pima County Sheriff's deputies located a burned and abandoned Porsche 944 that belonged to Frank and Lili Champagne, Melinda's mother.
When a deputy went to the Champagne residence to notify them about their vehicle, a far more horrific scene was uncovered.
Inside the home, law enforcement found the bodies of Lili Champagne, age 40, and her daughter, Melinda. Both had been shot multiple times. An investigation revealed that Melinda had sustained two gunshot wounds, one to her jaw and a fatal shot behind her ear. Her mother had been shot once behind the left knee and once between the eyes. The brutality of the crime sent shockwaves through the community and launched an intensive homicide investigation. A breakthrough in the case came after a news bulletin was released asking for public assistance. In response, the sister of a man named Richard Harley Greenway contacted detectives, informing them that her brother had knowledge of the incident.
When questioned, Greenway initially attempted to deflect blame, weaving a story about a man named 'Red' whom he claimed had given him and a friend, Chris Lincoln, a ride in the victim's Porsche. However, as detectives delved deeper, his story began to unravel. Lincoln, when questioned separately, confessed to his involvement in the theft and arson of the car and implicated Greenway in the crimes. He later also confessed to participating in the murders, again pointing to Greenway's role. A search of Greenway's trailer solidified his connection to the crime, yielding a set of keys to the Porsche.
Further investigation and Greenway's own words would ultimately seal his fate. His fingerprint was found on the stock of the. 22 caliber bolt-action rifle that was determined to be the murder weapon. He had also made incriminating statements to a coworker, Brian Mize, detailing how he and a friend had entered the victims' home and how he had shot both women after sending his friend out of the house. He reportedly told his coworker that he killed them because they had seen his face. While incarcerated, Greenway also confessed to a cellmate that he had 'just blew two people away.' Richard Harley Greenway was subsequently convicted of the murders of Melinda Ann Peters and Lili Champagne. The court found that the murders were committed for pecuniary gain, as stereo equipment and other items were stolen from the victims' home.
