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John F. Lyons

Death by Force
Case Description
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John F. Lyons, a 24-year-old Caucasian male, was a Marine Sergeant with a young family. On July 31, 1978, what began as a journey from Yuma, Arizona, to visit relatives in Omaha, Nebraska, turned into a horrific tragedy for him and his loved ones. Traveling with his wife Donnelda, their 22-month-old son Christopher, and their 15-year-old niece Teresa Tyson, the family drove through the Arizona desert. Near the small town of Quartzsite, they came across a seemingly stranded vehicle and, in an act ...Read More
Links to Additional Sources (5)
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  • The Arizona Republic: The story of Gary Tison's fateful final escape — from those who were there
  • Randy Greenawalt - Wikipedia
    •     ...View 3 additional sources
    Victim Details

    John F. Lyons

    Male

    White / Caucasian

    Quartzsite

    AZ

    1978-07-31

    24

    John

    F. Lyons

    12/01/2025

    Forum Posts (2)
    I came across this case while digging into some of the tragic events that took place in Arizona duri... ...Read More
    11/02/2024
    I recently came across a detail in the Lyons family case that truly struck a chord with me. The Lyon... ...Read More
    05/04/2023
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