A renewed investigation into the killing of a Tucson man in 2014 has resulted in enough new evidence to seek an arrest.
The problem, Tucson police say, their suspect died in 2024.
In November 2014, a complaint from maintenance workers at an apartment complex near North Campbell and East Prince roads about a foul smell led to the discovery of the body of 79-year-old Leroy Baillie.
He had been dead for days and his body showed trauma indicative of a homicide, police said at the time.
During the initial probe, police focused on a man named Larry Kenneth Woods, who had been seen at the apartment and was suspected of using Baillie's credit cards. Woods had been arrested days before the Baillie's body was found, carrying the man's financial information, police said in a news release.
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"Despite extensive investigative efforts, detectives were unable to file charges at that time," the release said.
The case was reopened this year by TPD's Cold Case unit and with new evidence, investigators prepared to seek charges in the killing, the release said.
But Woods died in Maricopa County in September 2024 from blunt force trauma, the release said.
"Had Woods been alive, he would have been arrested for Mr. Baillie鈥檚 murder," police said in the release. "The case is being submitted for exceptional clearance and will be officially closed."
