https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-breaking/2019/12/04/10-000-reward-offered-unsolved-2003-murder-scottsdale-couple/2614348001/

Lisa Marie Gurrieri, age 19 of Mesa, left us to join her father John on Oct. 18th, 2003 in Black Canyon City. He awaited her in hea-ven with his arms wide open to greet his little princess and her Romeo, Brandon Rumbaugh. Lisa, a native of Arizona, graduated from Mesa High School. She was currently a sophomore at Mesa Commun-ity College studying business management. She was employed as a secretary at SRP, and also volunteered her singing talents with the band at Christ the King Catholic Church. Our Angel was loved by all who knew her; she gave to others of her time, talent and love until the end of her life. She was a loving daughter, sister, granddaughter and friend who will be deeply missed but not forgotten. Survivors include her mother Paula, brothers; Neil III and Denny Whelan of Mesa, grandparents Dolores and Neil Gurrieri of Scottsdale and Mary Lou Hussey of Phoenix. Also survived by great grandmothers; Grace Cupo and Mary Gurrieri, both of New Jersey and Aunts and uncles; Patricia and Terry Costello of Phoenix, Mary Ellen and David Smith of Phoenix, Neil II and Ellen Gurrieri of Scottsdale, Mike and Trisha Gurrieri of Gilbert and Dee and Rex Miller of Scottsdale. Visitation Sunday from 5-9 pm at Melcher's Chapel of the Roses, 43 S. Stapley, Mesa. Vigil Sunday at 7 pm. Funeral Mass at 10 am on Monday at Christ the King Catholic Church, 1551 E. Dana, Mesa. Interment to follow at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Mesa. .

Published in The Arizona Republic from Oct. 25 to Oct. 26, 2003

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Man sought as lead in Scottsdale couple's slaying

Bryon Wells | Posted: Friday, October 24, 2003 7:29 am

Yavapai County detectives spent Thursday night looking for a Phoenix man they are calling an investigative lead in the slayings of a Scottsdale couple in the desert.

Lt. Steve Francis said detectives are asking for the public's help in locating Michael Villers, 34, who may be driving a black Ford F-150 extended-cab pickup truck with Arizona plate 201HDL and a camper shell.

"Villers is thought to have been in the area of the crime scene sometime late Friday night or early Saturday morning and detectives need to speak with Villers," Francis said. "Villers is not a suspect, but is an investigative lead."

Detectives also are chasing down five or six other leads in the Valley, Francis said, and meeting with family members and friends of Brandon Rumbaugh, 20, and Lisa Gurrieri, 19,

Rumbaugh and Gurrieri were found shot to death Sunday in their sleeping bags in the bed of Gurrieri's white Ford pickup truck in a remote but popular area near Interstate 17 about five miles south of Sunset Point campground.

Both were shot multiple times in the head.

Detectives still don't know a motive, Francis said.

Rumbaugh's mother, Desiree, said her family is less concerned about the motive than about police solving the crime.

"We're all just holding to it's a random act of violence," she said. "Mostly what I'm focused on is moving forward, and keeping his spirit with me."

Brandon Rumbaugh and Gurrieri met at a Scottsdale or Phoenix nightclub. Gurrieri, a Mesa High School graduate, worked for Salt River Project and aspired to be a wedding planner.

In their yearlong relationship the two were inseparable, Desiree Rumbaugh said.

A Coronado High School graduate, Brandon Rumbaugh could play several instruments — including the trumpet, trombone and saxophone — and was a Latin and swing dancer. He once danced with his sister at a school performance.

"Performing has been part of their lives forever," Desiree Rumbaugh said of her son and daughter.

Brandon Rumbaugh joined the U.S. Marine Corps reserves in July 2001, but was discharged about a year later for problems with his knees, Desiree Rumbaugh said.

About that time, Brandon Rumbaugh developed an interest in fitness, and soon became a personal trainer at Fitness Works in Mesa.

He shortly developed a strong client base, said Chris Gaffney, the gym's fitness director. "He made a lot of changes in a lot of people's lives," Gaffney said.

The gym has organized a memorial fund under Brandon Rumbaugh's name at Wells Fargo Bank and hopes to establish a college scholarship in his name.

Gurrieri's funeral is 10 a.m. Monday at Christ the King Catholic Church, 1551 E. Dana Ave. in Mesa. Visitation will be 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the Chapel of the Roses, 43 S. Stapley Drive, Mesa. A memorial service for Brandon Rumbaugh will be 7 p.m. Saturday at Scottsdale Bible Church, 7601 E. Shea Blvd., Scottsdale.

Carwash

Lisa Gurrieri's friends are planning a carwash to raise money for the Gurrieri family 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at an ExxonMobil station, 353 E. Brown Road, Mesa.

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Yavapai Silent Witness is offering a $10,000.00 cash reward for information that leads to the arrest of the suspect in the 2003 double murder near Bumble Bee, Arizona. On Friday, October 17, 2003 Brandon Rumbaugh and his girlfriend Lisa Gurrieri left Scottsdale, AZ for an overnight camping trip north of Phoenix. The couple borrowed a 2000 white Ford F-150 pick-up truck and were to return the following day. When the couple didn't return friends and family began to search. Later, the couple's bodies were found shot to death lying in the bed of the borrowed pick-up. The pick-up was parked in a dirt parking area off of the Bumble Bee Road a short distance from Interstate 17.

Click the photo to see a very high resolution, crisp and clear photo of this grave marker.