{"id":3614,"date":"2026-07-15T11:33:14","date_gmt":"2026-07-15T11:33:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tucsonmovingreport.com\/?p=3614"},"modified":"2026-07-15T11:33:14","modified_gmt":"2026-07-15T11:33:14","slug":"murder-trial-begins-for-man-accused-of-killing-good-samaritan-in-pima-county","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tucsonmovingreport.com\/?p=3614","title":{"rendered":"Murder trial begins for man accused of killing good Samaritan in Pima County"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<section>\n<p>TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) &#8211; The trial of the man accused of killing a good Samaritan in Pima County years ago began on Tuesday, July 14.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/tucsonmovingreport.com\/?p=3612\">Aspiring meteorologist traveled to Arizona to take senior pictures during a dust storm<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Jack Daryl Upchurch, 42, is facing charges of first-degree murder, armed robbery, aggravated robbery, kidnapping, vehicle theft, third-degree burglary, and evidence tampering.<\/p>\n<h3><b>PREVIOUS COVERAGE<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><span><u><b>Police seek storage-unit burglar<\/b><\/u><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span><u><b>Investigation ongoing after good Samaritan killed in Pima County<\/b><\/u><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span><u><b>Three suspects indicted in Christmas Eve homicide<\/b><\/u><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span><b>Widow hopes to bring more law enforcement to rural Pima County after husband was killed<\/b><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span><b>Widow speaking out about possible plea deals for homicide suspects<\/b><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span><b>Family of victim in Good Samaritan homicide facing possible gag order<\/b><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span><b>Good Samaritan family asking Laura Conover to recuse herself from case<\/b><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The Pima County Sheriff\u2019s Department said Upchurch is one of three people involved in the death of 53-year-old Paul Clifford on Dec. 24, 2024.<\/p>\n<p>On Tuesday, a 12-person jury and alternates were selected for the eight-day trial, and opening statements were delivered. The jury will return on Wednesday, and witness testimony will begin.<\/p>\n<p>Brad Terrace is the lead prosecutor for the case, while Michael Harwin is defending Upchurch.<\/p>\n<p>The other suspects, Elmer Glenn Smith and Wendy Hailey Scott, have reached plea deals in the case. <\/p>\n<p>Christina Clifford, Paul Clifford\u2019s widow, told 13 News that she was told by prosecutors that Smith could face a year in prison while Scott could get probation. The plea deal likely will not be completed until after Upchurch\u2019s trial.<\/p>\n<p>As of July 14, Upchurch was being held on a $1 million bond while the 21-year-old Smith was being held without bond. Smith, who was 16 years old when she was arrested, was not in custody, according to the Pima County inmate roster.<\/p>\n<p>The PCSD said Upchurch knocked on the door of Clifford\u2018s home on Christmas Eve in 2024 and claimed to have car trouble.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/tucsonmovingreport.com\/?p=3610\">Bipartisan senators push Russia oil sanctions bill, honoring late Sen. Graham<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Clifford\u2018s family said it wasn\u2019t unusual for him to help people out, especially since their home was far out in rural Pima County.<\/p>\n<p>When Clifford didn\u2019t return home, his family contacted law enforcement.<\/p>\n<p>The PCSD said his body was later found near a smoldering vehicle in the area of Redington Pass and San Pedro River &#8212; a rugged area miles from homes.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThose strangers chose to repay his kindness by brutally murdering him and leaving his body burning on the side of the road next to a burning vehicle,\u201d Christina Clifford told 13 News months after his murder. \u201cI would have never thought I would have been saying goodbye to him before he even turned 54.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>His stolen vehicle was found at an apartment complex in an area between Prince Road and Roger Road.<\/p>\n<p>Scott, Smith, and Upchurch were arrested on Dec. 30 following a standoff near Benson Highway and Country Club.<\/p>\n<p>According to court records, Upchurch has an extensive criminal history in Pima County.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span>In 2012, he was found guilty of attempted vehicle theft and drug possession and sentenced to 2 1\/2 years in prison. Charges of burglary and theft were dismissed.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span>In 2016, he was found guilty of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and sentenced to three years in prison. An armed robbery charge was dismissed. <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span>In 2020, he was found guilty of misconduct involving weapons. He was sentenced to 2 1\/2 years in prison.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Are you streaming 13 News?<\/p>\n<p>Watch a free live stream of Tucson Now and 13 News at TucsonNow.Live.<\/p>\n<p>Be sure to download the free Tucson Now app, which you can find on Apple and Google.<\/p>\n<p>If you are using a desktop computer, you can use your mobile device to scan the QR code below.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/tucsonmovingreport.com\/?p=3608\">San Luis residents say USPS upgrades may help, but they want mailboxes at home<\/a><\/p>\n<p>You can submit your breaking news or weather images here.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Jack Daryl Upchurch is facing charges of first-degree murder, armed robbery, aggravated robbery, kidnapping, vehicle theft, third-degree burglary, and evidence tampering.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3613,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3614","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-interesting"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - 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