Chase Stanfield

In the quiet community of Whispering Pines, Arizona, a husband and wife were found dead inside their home on the morning of October 27, 2022. Chase Stanfield, a 39-year-old White male, and Gail Stanfield, 50, had been killed by multiple gunshot wounds. The Gila County Sheriff’s Office began a double homicide investigation after Chase’s sister, worried that she could not reach the couple, went to their house around 10:53 a.m. and discovered their bodies. The couple’s two dogs were found inside the home unharmed.

Investigators arriving at the residence on Raccoon Drive found no signs of a home invasion or forced entry, and the weapon used in the killings was not at the scene. While the couple was found on October 27, detectives later determined they had been killed two days earlier, on October 25. Family and friends were devastated by the loss. Gail had been pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and was posthumously awarded her degree from Grand Canyon University. Her daughter later wrote, "My heart breaks every day the moment I open my eyes and the reality hits like a wave again and again."

For months, detectives with the Gila County Sheriff's Office followed leads and evaluated evidence. The investigation ultimately led them to a suspect within the family. On March 14, 2023, authorities arrested the couple’s 19-year-old son, Hunter Stanfield, following an hour-long interview. Hunter, who had been living at his grandfather's home, was booked into the Gila County Jail and charged with two counts of first-degree premeditated murder.

Hunter Stanfield’s case proceeded to trial. In January 2024, a jury found him guilty of two counts of first-degree premeditated murder in the deaths of his father and stepmother. Prosecutors had argued that Hunter ambushed the couple in their home.

Following the conviction, a judge sentenced Hunter Stanfield to two consecutive life sentences in prison. In handing down the sentence, the judge noted that two people had died in an ambush and that the sentences should run consecutively. The terms of the sentence mean Hunter will not be eligible for release. The case is now considered solved, with the sentencing occurring in June 2024.