In the mining town of Jerome, Arizona, perched precariously on the side of a mountain, David Rees served as a dedicated police officer. On the night of Sunday, May 21, 1933, the 53-year-old officer was making his usual patrols through the bustling streets of the town. It was a time when Jerome was a rough and tumble place, filled with miners and a certain element of lawlessness that kept the local police force constantly on alert.
The following morning, the community of Jerome awoke to
the grim news of Officer Rees's death. His body had been discovered lying face down in the Nevada Cafe. He had been killed by a single gunshot wound to his abdomen. The veteran officer, with 16 years of service to the town, had apparently been shot while on duty, though the exact circumstances of the shooting remained shrouded in mystery.
An investigation was launched into the murder of the respected lawman. However, the case proved to be a difficult one for the authorities. Despite their efforts, a motive for the killing could not be established. In the close-knit but often secretive community of Jerome, no witnesses came forward with information that could lead to an arrest. The murder weapon was never recovered, and no suspect was ever officially named or apprehended in connection with the crime. The shooting of Officer David Rees, a husband and father of three, became a cold case, leaving a permanent scar on the history of the small Arizona town. The identity of his killer and the reason for his murder remain unknown to this day.
