Arizona troopers stopped a Texas-registered vehicle on Interstate 10 over the weekend and detained a 65-year-old man who is now the subject of a cross-state inquiry, police said. The driver, named as Bruce Kenton Jeffers, is being jailed in Cochise County while Texas authorities investigate the death of a 54-year-old woman. Texas officers had distributed information on a suspect believed to be traveling west on I-10, and a full autopsy has been requested in the Texas case while police decide whether to file criminal charges.
According to the Arizona Department of Public Safety, troopers were notified of a suspected homicide suspect traveling west on I-10 and stopped a car near milepost 307, close to Benson. Officers arrested the driver and lodged him into the Cochise County Jail as part of a multiagency operation, according to officials. According to 12News, the stop was coordinated with other law enforcement partners. According to KLTV, authorities in Arizona have confirmed that the detainee will be transferred to Texas.
Anderson County investigators in East Texas identified the victim as Joni Williams, 54, of Tennessee Colony. Deputies said preliminary findings indicate she was shot, and the sheriff’s office has requested a full autopsy while detectives gather evidence and question witnesses. According to KLTV, Anderson County has confirmed preparations to extradite the Arizona detainee on a different warrant for breaking bond conditions in an unrelated incident.
While the Anderson County criminal investigation continues, officials say agencies in Arizona and Texas are coordinating custody and transfer logistics. Prosecutors will analyze the autopsy results and other collected information before determining whether to file homicide charges, and any extradition related to the bond-violation warrant will be handled separately from a prospective homicide prosecution. KLTV reports that the Arizona detainee is being held pending transport to Texas.
Anderson County authorities have asked anyone with information to contact the sheriff’s office. The county’s website includes its records and tip line, and callers can reach the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office at (903) 729-6068. While Jeffers is still in Arizona custody, Cochise County Detention personnel are handling booking and transportation arrangements. For more information, visit the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, and for booking information, go to the Cochise County Detention Division.
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