On Thursday July 20, 2017 at approximately 11:45 a.m., the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office was advised of a green Toyota stopped at a mail box by the Ash Creek School in Apache where a female got out of the vehicle and grabbed the mail from the mailbox before getting back into the car which sped away. The caller advised that the woman began throwing some of the mail out of the window as the vehicle left the area.
Sheriff’s Deputies were in the area and conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle matching the description given. After contacting the driver, Deputies observed a quantity of mail in the vehicle. A search warrant was obtained for the car and for the residence of the registered owner in Sunizona.
A search of the car revealed numerous mail items with names that did not match the subjects in the vehicle. A subsequent search of the residence revealed numerous other mail items in other persons names along with checks and credit cards.
Four people were arrested in connection to this case and charged with a total of 108 felonies. The Sheriff’s Office is continuing the investigation which appears to have between twenty five and fifty victims so far based on evidence recovered in the vehicle and at the home.
Arrested were:
Hope Killmer, 17 years of age, SunizonaKeith Smothers,
Possession of Paraphernalia (x1)
Possession of prescription drug (x2)
Tampering with physical evidence (x5)
Theft (x20)
Theft to deprive another of property (x20)
Burglary 3rd degree (x20)
Possession of Burglary Tools (x3)
Dennis Killmer, 53 years of age, Sunizona
Possession of paraphernalia (x10)
Possession of dangerous drugs (x4)
Theft/Fraud (x2)
Theft/Controlling stolen property (x3)
Loretta Killmer, 50 years of age, Sunizona
Possession of paraphernalia (X10)
Possession of dangerous drugs (x4)
Theft/Fraud (x2)
Theft controlling stolen property (x3)
Keith Smothers, 22 years of age, Cochise
Possession of Paraphernalia (x1)
Possession of prescription drug (x2)
Tampering with physical evidence (x5)
Theft (x20)
Theft to deprive another of property (x20)
Burglary 3rd degree (x20)
Possession of Burglary Tools (x3)