Two homicide suspects overpowered two security officers Monday in Blanding, Utah, and have escaped, according to the Tucson Police Department.
Blane Barksdale, 56, and Susan Barksdale, 59, were being extradited from Henrietta, New York, to Pima County, Arizona, when they escaped.
They are wanted in connection with the Tucson slaying of 72-year-old Frank Bligh on April 16.
Investigators indicated that they might be traveling through Arizona. They were last seen driving a red GMC Sierra pickup truck with Arizona license plate 127XT. The truck has damage to the front passenger side and rear bumper, police said.
Blane Barksdale has tattoos on his arms and hands.
Blane and Susan Barksdale are believed to be armed and dangerous and should not be approached, Tucson Police said on its Facebook page.
The FBI, U.S. Marshals and Apache County Sheriff’s Office are assisting in the investigation. If the Barksdales are spotted, please call 911 immediately. Anyone with possible information on their whereabouts is urged to call 911 or 88-CRIME.
On May 24, authorities found the couple in an RV in a Henrietta, New York, parking lot and arrested them without incident.
The investigation of Bligh’s death began after Tucson firefighters responded to a fire at his east-side home in the 3500 block of South Calexico Avenue on April 16.
Police later determined the fire was set intentionally, according to the Tucson Daily Star.
Bligh’s missing car prompted a missing persons investigation by police. It was found the next day in Tucscon, police said in April.
