In the summer of 2014, a quiet north Phoenix neighborhood was rocked by the violent deaths of a well-respected couple, 81-year-old William Singer and his 64-year-old wife, Barbara. The couple was found brutally murdered in their home near 35th Avenue and Bell Road on July 2, 2014, leaving their family and community in shock. The case, which has been described as one of the most violent and brutal scenes investigators had witnessed, remains unsolved, with no arrests made.
William, a
former Marine helicopter pilot and EMT instructor, and Barbara, a dedicated nurse practitioner, were known for their kindness and community involvement. They were enjoying their retirement years and were looking forward to a dream trip to the Panama Canal. However, their peaceful life came to a horrific end in what police believe was a home invasion that turned deadly. There were no signs of forced entry into their home, leading investigators to suspect that the couple may have known their killer or were coerced into allowing them inside.
The mystery deepened as investigators uncovered unusual activity on the couple's bank accounts. On the night of June 28, 2014, just days before their bodies were discovered, both William and Barbara were captured on surveillance footage making separate, large cash withdrawals from an ATM. The late-night transactions were out of character for the couple, and William appeared to be under duress in the video, raising suspicions that they were being forced to withdraw the money. Police believe they were taken back to their home and killed shortly after.
In the years following the murders, the Phoenix Police Department has continued to investigate, releasing sketches of persons of interest and offering a reward for information. However, the initial persons of interest were eventually cleared of any involvement. The case has grown cold, leaving the Singers' family with unanswered questions and a community still searching for justice for a couple who had dedicated their lives to helping others. The motive behind the brutal slayings remains unclear, and the identity of the person or persons responsible is still unknown.
