Frederick Dale Huddleston Obituary, Death – The Pima County Sheriff’s Department recently identified the victim of a cold case homicide discovered in Tucson back in 2012. The remains were confirmed to belong to Frederick Dale Huddleston, whose body was found on December 18, 2012, near the intersection of I-10 and the eastbound Craycroft Frontage Road by a road crew. Due to the advanced state of decomposition, authorities were initially unable to determine the victim’s identity, and the case remained a mystery for over a decade.
The Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner ruled the death a homicide, but without any concrete leads or the ability to identify Huddleston at the time, the investigation reached a standstill. However, in July 2024, after years of investigative work, a breakthrough occurred when Huddleston’s genealogy profile was processed using advanced genealogy databases. The FBI conducted this research, which ultimately led to the positive identification of the remains as Huddleston’s.
The investigation revealed that Huddleston’s last known contact with anyone took place in December 2008, in the same area where his body was eventually found. According to the detectives working on the case, Huddleston had been known to travel across several states, including Arizona, Florida, Texas, Colorado, and Indiana. At the time of his death, it is believed that he was experiencing homelessness, which likely contributed to the challenges in locating and identifying him earlier.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department is still looking for more information that could shed light on Huddleston’s final days and the circumstances of his murder. They have urged anyone who may have known Huddleston or who has any relevant information to contact their Homicide & Cold Case Unit at (520) 351-3486. Those wishing to remain anonymous can also provide tips through 88-CRIME, as investigators continue to search for answers and bring justice to this long-unsolved case.
The identification of Frederick Dale Huddleston brings some closure to one aspect of this cold case, but many questions remain about what led to his death. The use of genealogy research represents a growing trend in law enforcement, where modern technology is applied to decades-old cases, offering a glimmer of hope for justice in situations that seemed unsolvable. This case highlights the tireless efforts of investigators, who persist in their pursuit of justice even after years without significant leads. The investigation into Huddleston’s homicide is ongoing, with detectives hoping that new information will surface to bring further clarity to the case.