YCSO spokesman Dwight D’Evelyn says a 40-year old cold case has been solved. In 1980, the body of 29-year old Michael Lee was found on Highway-179 in unincorporated Yavapai County. Lee was shot several times in the head with a .22. YCSO deputies collected cigarette butts and other items at the scene with no resolution. In June of 2018 a YCSO Cold Case volunteer looked over the case and sent the cigarette butts to the DPS lab for DNA testing. Two of the cigarette butts came back to a David Widmer, who was 31 at the time of the murder. Widmer, who has an extensive criminal background, was not mentioned in the initial investigation. Based on this a certified YCSO detective was assigned to this case in October of 2018. D’Evelyn say robbery appears to be the motivation behind the murder. Lee told his assailants he had money in a bandana tied to his leg. A second suspect named Rocky Crabtree is believed to have been an accomplice to the murder. Both men have since passed away.
