The arrests of an Arizona prison escapee and an accomplice being sought in the deaths of a Tecumseh couple killed in New Mexico has brought relief to area family members and friends, who have returned home from New Mexico to begin plans for a memorial service.
Gary and Linda Haas, both 61, were found dead Aug. 4 in their burned camper-trailer near Santa Rosa, N.M. They were in that area as part of their annual camping trip to Colorado, something they have done for the past 11 years.
Police linked their deaths to two Arizona prison escapees and an accomplice. One escapee was apprehended in Wyoming Aug. 9, while John McCluskey, 45, and his reported cousin and fiancé, Casslyn Welch, 44, were sought in what became a nationwide fugitive search.
A forest ranger who spotted them at a remote Arizona campsite Thursday night was being called “a true hero” after his tip resulted in a heavily armed law enforcement contingent capturing the couple who fancied themselves as a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde.
The news brought relief to family members of the couple, many who have been in New Mexico for the past two weeks waiting for the investigation to be complete so they could bring the couple’s remains home.
Tecumseh area resident Sheila Walker, a family friend, told the News-Star the family heard about the arrests Thursday night from New Mexico State Police.
“It was a relief,” she said. “Everybody took a deep breath and said, ‘Yes, they’re behind bars again.”
Walker said they were all thankful no one else was hurt.
McCluskey had a gun in his possession and said he wished he would have shot the forest ranger and arresting officers when he had the chance, authorities said.
McCluskey and Welch had evaded authorities in at least six states before being caught about 300 miles east of the prison.
Corrections officials have said that Welch, reported to be McCluskey’s fiance and cousin, helped McCluskey and fellow inmates Tracy Province and Daniel Renwick escape from the private prison near Kingman July 30 by cutting through a security fence.
Renwick was recaptured in Colorado on Aug. 1, and Province was found in Wyoming Aug. 9.
“The nightmare that began July 30 is finally over,” David Gonzales, U.S. marshal for Arizona, said Thursday evening.
Province, McCluskey and Welch have been linked to the slayings of Gary and Linda Haas, although few details about the case have been released by authorities in New Mexico.
Walker said the couple’s remains were released to their daughter, Cathy Byus, on Thursday.
Byus, Walker and many other family members of the Haases have been in New Mexico as the investigation was being conducted there.
They were embraced by the Santa Rosa community, Walker said, and that kindness helped them through such a difficult time.
“It hurt that community almost as bad as it hurt us,” she said. The community provided them meals, prayers and support, she said.
“They couldn’t believe something this heinous would happen there,” Walker said. “They made this portion as easy on us as they could,” she said, adding they were given support and prayers wherever they went.
Walker said the couple had taken the same route on their camping trips each year, often stopping at some of the same places. Two of the couple’s three dogs were found wandering outside the burned camper, and family members searched for their third dog, Bear, but he has never been found.
Walker said Linda Haas was a budding photographer who loved computer work. Gary Haas loved to go fishing, she said, and the couple had recently taken up a new hobby of going to garage sales. They were two months short of seeing their first grandchildren being born, Walker said, but “they’ll be watching from heaven.”
Walker said they were a unique couple who would help anyone.
“We just want everyone to know how gracious Gary and Linda were — they’d share anything with anyone,” Walker said. “In this world, bad things happen to good people.”
Plans are being made for a memorial service to be held in Tecumseh, she said, and they will be laid to rest in their hometown of Southwest City, Mo.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
