In 1982, the mother and her two young daughters met a tragic end within the confines of their residence, a case that has eluded resolution to this day. Valerie Pride, a woman of 24, found herself at a pinnacle in her life, concluding the final year of her four-year apprenticeship with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 640. Notably, she stood as one of the pioneering female electricians at the Palo Verde power plant in Maricopa County, Arizona. In the summer of that fateful year, she, a single mother, acquired a new residence in the serene neighborhood of South Phoenix, aspiring to provide her two daughters with an idyllic upbringing.
On the somber Labor Day of September 6, 1982, Valerie and her daughters marked their inaugural celebration in the new abode. However, the joy was eclipsed by sorrow, triggered by a distressing phone call to Valerie's boyfriend, Ben Daniels. The news conveyed the tragic demise of his 9-year-old daughter from a prior relationship, succumbing to an epileptic seizure during a bath. This heart-wrenching revelation cast a pall over the day.
As the clock approached 9:30 pm, Valerie conversed with her brother when a knock interrupted their exchange. With Ben still absent, Valerie, anticipating his return, excused herself to answer the door. Little did her brother know that this would be their final conversation. Ben arrived around 10:00 pm to discover the front door ajar despite the scorching 109-degree temperature. Stepping inside, he confronted a nightmarish tableau. Valerie's daughters, 8-year-old Shontia and 4-year-old Duana, lay lifeless in the living room, shrouded in blood, victims of a brutal stabbing.
Valerie herself lay in the dining room, bearing multiple stab wounds, an attempt to reach the back door evident in her final moments. Overwhelmed by shock, Ben could only release a horrified scream, drawing the attention of concerned neighbors who promptly summoned the police.
The crime scene, investigated by Phoenix Police Department, unveiled a brutal tableau that left even seasoned detectives aghast. Stab wounds pervaded the unfortunate victims. Shontia and Duana, found in their pajamas, suggested a sudden, ruthless attack. The assailant likely exited through the back door, leaving a bloody handprint on a wooden fence rail.
The community, residing in a tranquil neighborhood with Spanish-style homes, recoiled at the inexplicable violence. Valerie, a hardworking single mother, and her children had recently settled into their new home. The motive behind the triple homicide remained elusive. No signs of forced entry, sexual assault, or theft emerged; the perpetrator or perpetrators seemed driven solely by a grim intent to kill.
Detectives faced a daunting challenge in piecing together the events leading to the tragedy. Six months of investigation yielded scant leads. Renewed efforts, including rewards offered by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 640 and the Silent Witness program, failed to produce substantial breakthroughs. Rumors linking the murders to retribution for Ben's earlier loss were explored but lacked substantiation.
A twist emerged with Kevin Atkins' arrest in 1983, suspected in the deaths of Gloria, Shontia, and Duana. Despite subsequent release, suspicions lingered. Investigators believed additional accomplices were involved, pointing to a possible connection between the murders and Zeta Daniels' accidental death.
Speculations about a 1982 break-in at the Pride house resurfaced, adding a layer of complexity. A knife found two years later failed to conclusively link to the murders. In 1988, a renewed appeal for information through the Silent Witness program yielded little progress.
Detective Bob Brunansky inherited the unsolved case in 2005, expressing determination to seek justice. The passage of four decades has not diminished the family's pursuit of closure. Detective Dominick Roestenberg, part of the Phoenix Police Cold Case Unit, continues the investigation, exploring advanced forensic technologies. Despite the challenges, he remains hopeful, calling for public assistance in solving the enduring mystery.
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