In late 2017, a wave of random, deadly shootings swept through the Phoenix metro area. With no clear pattern and no warning, lives were taken in an unfolding spree that left a community shaken and searching for answers.
This episode was researched & scripted by Wendy & Beth Williams and edited by Minnie Williams.
Thanks for listening! This is a weekly podcast and new episodes drop on Thursdays, so until next time… look alive guys, it’s crazy out there!
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Footnotes
Articles/Websites
The Associated Press. (01/18/2018). Man suspected in 9 slayings in Phoenix area has ties to Tucson. Retrieved 02/07/2026 from https://tucson.com/news/local/man-suspected-in-slayings-in-phoenix-area-has-ties-to/article_f0aa87f2-fc7c-11e7-ae26-7fb2353a61be.html
Matas, Kimberly. (08/20/2009). Roy Cooksey dies; tireless advocate for civil rights. Tucson.com. Retrieved 02/09/2026 from https://tucson.com/news/local/roy-cooksey-dies-tireless-advocate-for-civil-rights/article_f38dd923-b495-5a31-89c2-ea9701caccad.html
Loose, Ashley. (01/18/2018). 3 women arrested for tampering, hindering Avondale homicide investigation tied to 8 other murders. ABC 15. Retrieved 02/09/2026 from https://www.abc15.com/news/region-west-valley/avondale/three-women-charged-with-tampering-hindering-avondale-homicide-investigation
Shapiro, Emily. (01/19/2018). Suspected serial killer accused of shooting 9 in 3 weeks is an ‘aspiring music star’. ABC News. Retrieved 02/11/2026 from https://abcnews.com/US/suspected-serial-killer-accused-shooting-weeks-aspiring-music/story?id=52461278
MCAO. (12/18/2025). Serial Killer Sentenced to Death. Retrieved 02/16/2026 from https://maricopacountyattorney.org/m/newsflash/home/detail/1267
Resthaven. (n.d.). Latorrie K. Beckford. Retrieved 02/16/2026 from https://www.resthaven.us/obituaries/latorrie-beckford-46726/obituary
The Associated Press. (12/18/2025). What to Know About the Arizona Serial Killings That Resulted in the Death Penalty. Retrieved 02/17/2026 from https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2025-12-18/what-to-know-about-the-arizona-serial-killings-that-resulted-in-the-death-penalty
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Cleophus Cooksey Jr. Retrieved 02/18/2026 from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleophus_Cooksey_Jr.
Kiefer, Michael (09/10/2018). 8 or 9 homicide victims? Lawyers ask about the murder left off their client’s indictment. AZ Central. Retrieved 02/18/2026 from https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2018/09/10/cleophus-cooksey-case-lawyers-ask-murder-left-off-client-indictment/1215834002/
Crimesider Staff. (01/19/2018). 3 women accused of hindering Phoenix serial killer probe. CBS News. Retrieved 02/18/2026 from https://www.cbsnews.com/news/3-women-accused-of-hindering-phoenix-serial-killer-probe/
Jeffrey, Courtland. (01/18/2018). Cleophus Cooksey serial murders: When and where each killing took place. ABC15. Retrieved 02/18/2026 from https://www.abc15.com/news/data/cleophus-cooksey-jr-serial-murders-when-and-where-each-killing-took-place
Cassidy, Megan; Pohl, Jason. (01/19/2018). Police tie 9 attacks to Phoenix serial-killing suspect. USA Today. Retrieved 02/18/2026 from https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2018/01/18/phoenix/1044458001/\
The Associated Press; Billeaud, Jacques; Govindarao, Sejal. (09/28/2025). Jury convicts man in string of shootings that killed 8 in metro Phoenix. WAFB9. Retrieved 02/18/2026 from https://www.wafb.com/2025/09/29/jury-convicts-man-string-shootings-that-killed-8-metro-phoenix/
Lopez, Patrick J. (n.d.). A Historical Look Down the Barrel of Gun Control in Arizona. Mesch Clark Rothschild. Retrieved 02/18/2026 from https://mcrazlaw.com/an-historical-look-down-the-barrel-of-gun-control-in-arizona/
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Gun Laws in Arizona. Retrieved 02/18/2026 from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_laws_in_Arizona
Oxford, Dwayne. (03/18/2024). Why are Black voters backing Donald Trump in record numbers? Al Jazeera. Retrieved 02/18/2026 from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/3/18/why-are-black-voters-backing-donald-trump-in-record-numbers
Podcasts
AMY & T.J. (Hosts). (12/21/2025). Real-Time Crime: One Of Arizona’s Most Prolific Serial Killers Sentenced To Death: “He’s A Monster.” [Audio Podcast]. https://podcasts.apple.com/ch/podcast/one-of-arizonas-most-prolific-serial-killers/id1588268076?i=1000742200655&l=en-GB
Manda & Ang (Hosts). (07/23/2025). Spine‑Chilling Chats: Episode 63 – Cleophus Cooksey Jr. & Cory Morris. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-63-cleophus-cooksey-jr-cory-morris/id1743870226?i=1000718553492
Wilson, Adidas (Author). (12/19/2025). Murder Files Unsealed: Arizona Serial Killer Cleophus Cooksey Jr. Sentenced to Death in Six Murders. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/arizona-serial-killer-cleophus-cooksey-jr-sentenced/id1717817874?i=1000742078292
Kristi & Katie (Hosts). (12/18/2025). True Crime Squad: Cleophus Cooksey Jr., Brian Walshe Sentenced, John Paul Miller Indicted. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cleophus-cooksey-jr-brian-walshe-sentenced-john-paul/id1525438711?i=1000741923887
Music
“Abyss” by Alasen: ●https://soundcloud.com/alasen●https://twitter.com/icemantrap ●https://instagram.com/icemanbass/●https://soundcloud.com/therealfrozenguy●
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
“Melrose” by Yung Kartz https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Yung_Kartz Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
“Snap” Purple Planet Music http://www.purple-planet.com https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
“Bleeping Demo” & “Furious Freak” by Kevin MacLeod
https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/full_list.php
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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