After nearly four decades of evading authorities, 76-year-old Stephen Craig Campbell is finally in custody. The fugitive was arrested last week after his use of a fraudulent identity in a 2019 driver’s license renewal triggered an investigation that ultimately led to his capture.
Campbell, who had been living under the assumed name of Walter Lee Coffman, was wanted for attempted murder after he allegedly planted a bomb on the doorstep of his estranged wife’s boyfriend in 1982. When his wife opened the bomb-filled toolbox, it exploded, causing her severe injuries, including the loss of a finger. Campbell, also facing a federal firearm charge related to the incident, was released on bond in 1983—but soon disappeared, beginning a life on the run.
Authorities now believe Campbell assumed Coffman’s identity shortly after his disappearance. Coffman had died in 1975 at the age of 22 and was buried in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Investigators have discovered that Campbell and Coffman were both engineering students at the University of Arkansas in the mid-1970s, raising suspicions that the two may have known each other, which could explain Campbell’s decision to take on Coffman’s identity.
Over the years, Campbell, as Coffman, successfully obtained a driver’s license and even a Social Security card in Coffman’s name. In the 1990s, Campbell contested Coffman’s death status with the Social Security Administration and eventually succeeded in obtaining a replacement Social Security card. He also applied for and received Social Security benefits totaling $140,000.
It wasn’t until 2019, however, when Campbell’s driver’s license renewal in New Mexico—using Coffman’s name—finally alerted authorities. A check by agents from the National Passport Center’s fraud detection unit revealed that Coffman had been deceased for nearly 50 years, and they began investigating the potential fraudulent use of his identity.
In 2024, federal agents tracked Campbell to a 44-acre property in southern New Mexico, which he had allegedly owned under Coffman’s name. As agents approached the residence, Campbell, dressed in camouflage and armed with a scoped .302 caliber rifle, allegedly positioned himself to engage with the SWAT team. The rifle was loaded with armor-piercing ammunition, ready to fire. Authorities later described Campbell as initially unresponsive to their calls, but he was eventually detained without further incident.
During the search of his property, agents found a vast arsenal of weapons—57 firearms and large quantities of ammunition. Additionally, fraudulent documents bearing Coffman’s name, including a Social Security card and passport cards, were discovered. Fingerprint analysis later confirmed Campbell’s true identity.
Campbell now faces charges for the 1982 attempted murder, as well as charges for passport misuse. Prosecutors are also considering additional charges. During a detention hearing, Campbell was ordered to remain in custody pending trial, with the judge citing a significant flight risk.
Authorities’ investigation into Campbell’s long-running deception and criminal activities continues, but his arrest marks the dramatic end of his decades-long escape from justice.
