Scottsdale PD DR# 78-13304
Greg Holman Murder Investigation
On 10/08/1978, Greg Eli Holman, a 14 YOA, W/M went missing from the Agua Linda park, 8800 E. McDonald in Scottsdale, AZ. Victim was last seen leaving the park with Jon Benson. No one ever saw victim again. The case preliminarily investigated with no additional information learned. Victim was thought to be a runway.
In 1981, the investigation was re-opened with interviews conducted with numerous individuals. By 1984, the investigators had exhausted all leads and the whereabouts of Greg Holman still remained a mystery.
In December of 1992, Scottsdale Police received a tip that the victim was deceased and may have been buried in the backyard of 8650 E Joshua Tree in Scottsdale, AZ, where John Benson had lived in 1978.
On December 23, 1992, excavation of the backyard of the residence began and human bones were recovered in an underground fort. The bones were examined and found that of a teenage boy.
In 1993, the remains were sent to Univerisity of California Berkeley lab for mitochondrial DNA testing and compared with Greg Holman’s siblings. Results concluded that bones and siblings were from the same maternal lineage.
The Maricopa County Medical Examiner concluded that Death was homicidal violence, however, the evidence at time did not conclusively point to a suspect. The investigation went cold in 1995.
In 2006, with the technical advancements in police forensics, the Greg Holman murder investigation was re-opened. Evidence was examined, new investigative techniques were used, and re-interviews were conducted with numerous individuals. In Jan 2008, Greg Holman’s remains were exhumed from Green Acres Mortuary and re-examined by Dr Laura Fulginiti a Forensic Anthropoligist with the Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office. Greg Holman’s remains were also sent to the Dept Of Public Safety (DPS) Crime Lab for new DNA Forensic examination. The results of the DNA confirmed that the bones were Greg Holman.
In May of 2008, based on new information learned through interviews and new investigative techniques, the backyard of 8650 E Joshua Tree was again excavated. The excavation revealed additional information and evidence to advance the case.
In August 2008, the entire investigation was presented to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. On 10/23/2008, Jon Douglas Benson was indicted by a Maricopa County Superior Court for the 2
nd Degree Murder of Greg Holman
.
Photo not available
Scottsdale PD DR# 86-18922
Dwayne Nutt Murder Investigation
On 11/15/1986, Victim Dwayne Nutt was found stabbed to death in his hotel room located at 409 N. Scottsdale Rd (Hospitality Inn) in Scottsdale, AZ.
The investigation revealed that Steve Scoutten was the primary suspect. Bloody clothing was found at Mouer Park in Tempe and was believed to be worn by Scoutten during the murder. The case was submitted to the Maricopa County Attorneys office for review and charging, however, charges were turndowned at that time.
In 2007, with advances in DNA and forensic technology, the case was reopened by the SPD cold case detectives. The bloody clothing believed to have been worn by Scoutten during the murder was examined by the Scottsdale Police Crime Lab. In June of 2008, DNA from blood on the clothing was matched to victim Dwayne Nutt and DNA that was linked to Steve Scoutten.
On 10/20/2008, homicide investigators from the Scottsdale Police Department traveled to Tucson to locate and interview Steve Scoutten. Investigators were able to locate Scoutten and an interview was conducted at the Tucson Police Dept. During the interview, Scoutten admitted that he stabbed Dwayne Nutt. Scoutten subsequently arrested for the 1st Degree Murder of Dwayne Nutt and booked into the Pima County Sheriff’s Office.
On 10/22/08, A Maricopa County Superior Court Grand Jury indicted Steven Sheffield Scoutten for the 1st Degree Murder of Dwayne Nutt.
Scoutten Photo
Additional information will be presented at the MCAO Press Conference on 10/27/08 at 2:30 PM.
