Suspect Arrested After Mesa Woman Found Dead in Car with Gunshot Wound

A woman was found dead in the backseat of her car in Mesa, the city's police department said. Officers found her with a gunshot wound.

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Mesa police officers responded to a welfare check at a house near Ellsworth and Baseline Roads in Mesa, where they found 82-year-old Linda Baran dead in the backseat of her car with a gunshot wound. The car was in the garage, police said.

According to court documents, police determined Baran had been sitting in the backseat while holding her hands up in a "surrender" position when she was shot by someone outside the car. Baran died because of a gunshot wound to her left side, which caused damage to the vital organs.

“Our family is relieved that the suspect in the callous murder of our mother is in custody and can no longer be a threat to the public," Baran's family said in a statement. "We appreciate the dedicated work and support of the Mesa Police Department, Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, and the US Marshal’s Office and look forward to justice being served.  We ask that our privacy be respected as we continue to grieve.”

Baran is survived by her brother, her five children and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as her two cats.

"We are comforted in the faith that she is now reunited with her beloved late-husband, Ron Baran, and the late, great chinchilla, Gadget," Baran's obituary reads. "Linda and Ron were inseparable through a 35-year marriage that was bound with unconditional love, uncontrollable laughter (spurred by her quick wit!), and, occasionally, a little harmless mischief."

Police later arrested Derek Bollwinkel. Bollwinkel faces the following charges:

• first-degree murder
• kidnap
• fraudulent use of a credit card

Baran had previously reported that Bollwinkel had been "aggressively asking her for money," court documents state. Bollwinkel had been Baran's neighbor, but was evicted about three weeks beforehand, court documents state.

Nine separate transactions were recorded on Baran's checking account between Feb. 9 and Feb. 10—all after police said Baran was last confirmed alive. Police say $10,000 was attempted to be withdrawn and $4,000 was actually withdrawn.

Court documents state the first transaction was made approximately 20 minutes after police believe the homicide occurred.

Police recovered bank and surrounding businesses' video surveillance showing Bollwinkel accessing Baran's checking account after her death. Police also found video surveillance of Bollwinkle's van driving and parking near Baran's home before the homicide, and then a neighbor said they saw Bollwinkle running from the victim's home and fleeing in his van, court documents say.

Court documents state that Bollwinkel served previous prison time and was arrested related to felony theft, forgery, burglary, fraud and trespassing in the first degree. He also has five felony convictions and is a prohibited possessor. Police believe a pistol was used in the homicide.

Bollwinkle is currently unemployed and fled the state after the homicide, court documents state.

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