On a summer day in 1969, the life of 31-year-old Paul E. Marston, a White male, was tragically cut short in Chino Valley, Arizona. Marston, an officer with the Arizona Department of Public Safety for five years, was killed in the line of duty on June 9, 1969. The events leading to his death began with the escape of Danny Lee Eckard from the Arizona State Prison in Florence on May 24, 1969. Eckard, a former U.S. Marine, was serving a lengthy sentence for kidnapping and rape.
Known by the Arizona media as the 'Desert Fox' for his survival skills, Eckard's time on the run led him to accost a camping couple, from whom he stole a truck. After the couple alerted the sheriff's office, a deputy spotted the stolen vehicle on Route 89 and began to follow it, awaiting backup. Realizing he was being pursued, Eckard turned onto Perkinsville Road, abandoned the truck, and took cover in a barn at the Four Winds Ranch.
Officer Marston and his partner, Patrolman Ron Mayes, arrived at the scene to assist in apprehending the fugitive. As Marston pursued Eckard, the escaped convict opened fire, fatally wounding him. In the immediate aftermath, Patrolman Mayes returned fire, shooting and killing the suspect, Danny Lee Eckard, at the scene. The confrontation also resulted in injuries to two other officers. Officer Marston was survived by his wife, Rosalind, and their two children. His remains were taken to Greenwood Memorial Park in Phoenix for cremation.
