A 31-year-old man has been charged with the murders of two teenagers in Arizona, whom he allegedly encountered randomly while they were camping in the Tonto National Forest in May. Thomas Brown, a former soldier in the Arizona Army National Guard, faces two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Evan Clark, 17, and Pandora Kjolsrud, 18.
Authorities described the killings as a 'senseless, violent act.' The teenagers had been reported missing after they failed to return from a camping trip. Their bodies were discovered on 27 May, each shot multiple times. Investigators found that Brown had given false information during questioning, claiming he had no contact with the victims or their vehicle.
DNA evidence contradicted Brown's statements, placing him inside the teens' SUV and linking him to the victims. A pair of gloves stained with Brown's blood was found near the vehicle. Police believe Brown acted alone and that there was no prior connection between him and the teenagers.
Brown served in the Arizona Army National Guard from October 2013 to December 2022, including a deployment in Djibouti, Africa. He was arrested at his home on Thursday and is being held in Maricopa County jail. The families of the victims expressed relief that a suspect has been caught, with Pandora's mother describing her daughter as a 'beautiful, brilliant light.'
