Wyoming Man Accused Of Using Dead Classmate's Identity On The Run For 40 Years Caught After One Small Mistake

A man who allegedly spent more than 40 years evading law enforcement by assuming someone else’s identity has finally been caught all because of one critical error.

Stephen Craig Campbell, a Wyoming resident now 76 years old, was first arrested in 1982 for allegedly planting a bomb. The Department of Justice states that the explosion injured his estranged wife and set fire to the surrounding area.

Campbell was accused of attempted first-degree murder after he reportedly left an explosive device inside a toolbox outside his wife's boyfriend’s home.

When she opened the toolbox, the bomb went off, severing one of her fingers. The explosion also caused a fire that damaged both the house and a neighboring property.

Following his arrest, Campbell was released on bond in 1983. But instead of appearing in court, he completely disappeared, leaving authorities baffled.

His name soon appeared on the US Marshals Most Wanted list, but despite their efforts, every lead eventually ran cold.

Campbell is accused of using a dead man's identity for 40 years US Attorney's Office District of New Mexico

That was until February 19 of this year when Campbell was finally found in New Mexico. Authorities had long suspected that something was off about his identity.

According to court documents, Campbell allegedly assumed the identity of his former classmate, Walter Lee Coffman, who tragically died in a car accident at the age of 22 in 1975. Using Coffman’s name, Campbell reportedly collected tens of thousands of dollars in government benefits.

The two men had both pursued engineering degrees at the University of Arkansas and graduated just two months before Coffman’s death, suggesting a strong possible link between them.

He allegedly acquired a passport in Coffman's name US Attorney's Office District of New Mexico

The Department of Justice believes this connection played a role in how Campbell was able to assume Coffman’s identity so successfully.

Records indicate that in 1984, Campbell applied for a passport under Coffman’s name. Over the next few decades, he managed to renew it several times using his own photograph but keeping the false identity intact.

In 1995, he reportedly took his deception even further by obtaining a Social Security card under Coffman’s name. Using an Oklahoma driver's license in the same identity, he was able to make the switch seamlessly, authorities say.

Campbell is also accused of purchasing a property in Weed, New Mexico, in 2003 under the stolen identity. He continued renewing his passport, successfully doing so in both 2005 and 2015.

But in 2019, the cracks in his cover started to show. When he attempted to renew his driver's license at the New Mexico Motor Vehicle Department in Cloudcroft, officials became suspicious.

Although he was initially granted the license, an agent from the National Passport Center’s Fraud Prevention Unit flagged the request. A deeper investigation revealed that the real Walter Coffman had been dead for decades.

His web of lies started unravelling in 2019 in New Mexico US Attorney's Office District of New Mexico

The deeper they dug, the more Campbell’s elaborate web of deception unraveled. Authorities found that he had been collecting Social Security retirement benefits in Coffman’s name - an amount that totaled $140,000.

After realizing the extent of the fraud, law enforcement officers descended on Campbell’s sprawling 44-acre property on February 19. But instead of surrendering, he reportedly armed himself with a rifle and attempted to hide.

FBI agents were able to force him out using flashbang stun devices. When they finally arrested him, they discovered that his weapon was loaded with high-powered ammunition designed to pierce body armor.

Authorities then searched his home and found an alarming stash 57 firearms along with large quantities of ammunition, all of which he was prohibited from owning, according to the DOJ.

SCSO spokesperson Jason Mower reflected on the decades-long manhunt, stating: "Campbell's wanted poster has been on the wall at our office since I started here nearly 20 years ago. I've worked hundreds of fugitive cases, helping track down and capture fugitives all across the country. But never Campbell - every lead went cold, no matter what tools we used. Now, I finally understand why."

The weapons seized from his property US Attorney's Office District of New Mexico

Campbell was arrested and is now facing charges for passport fraud, which alone could result in up to 10 years in prison.

However, his legal troubles don’t end there. Prosecutors say he will still need to stand trial for the 1982 attempted murder case.

Officials are also considering additional charges related to the massive cache of illegal weapons found in his home.