A Wyoming fugitive who managed to evade capture for over four decades has been arrested after a passport renewal application exposed his use of a deceased classmate’s identity.
The case dates back to 1982, when Stephen Craig Campbell, now 76, was arrested for allegedly planting a bomb inside a toolbox at the home of his estranged wife’s boyfriend in Wyoming. When his wife unknowingly opened the box, the device detonated, causing severe injuries and setting two homes on fire. Campbell was arrested but released on bond in 1983. However, before he could stand trial, he vanished, landing a spot on the US Marshals Most Wanted list.
Rather than disappearing completely, Campbell stole the identity of Walter Lee Coffman, a former classmate from the University of Arkansas who had died in a car accident in 1975. In 1984, he applied for a passport using Coffman’s name but his own photo. Over the years, he continued renewing passports, obtained a Social Security card, and even collected $140,000 in fraudulent benefits.
By 2003, Campbell had moved to Weed, New Mexico, where he purchased 44 acres of land under Coffman’s name. His deception remained undetected for decades—until 2019, when authorities reviewing his latest passport renewal request discovered Coffman had been dead for decades.
On February 19, 2025, after years of investigation, a team of federal and local law enforcement officers surrounded Campbell’s remote New Mexico property. Initially, he refused to surrender, armed with a high-powered rifle. Officers deployed flashbang stun devices, which forced him out of hiding. No shots were fired, and Campbell was taken into custody.
A subsequent search of his property uncovered 57 firearms, large stockpiles of ammunition, and a hidden elevated hideout where he had initially tried to evade capture. Given his fugitive status, possessing any firearms was illegal.
Campbell now faces federal fraud charges for identity theft and misuse of a passport, carrying a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison. Additionally, investigators are considering weapons-related charges. If convicted, he is expected to be extradited to Wyoming, where he will face trial for the 1982 bombing.
The Daily Mail, SFGate, and KSL.com contributed to this report.
