On Thursday October 9, 2013, at approximately 12:50 p.m., the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office was advised of a male subject who was reportedly trapped under three to four feet of dirt, rocks, and debris off of Apache Power Road, southeast of Benson.
Sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene along with Search and Rescue personnel, Benson Fire Department and St. David Fire Department, and met with a 70-year-old female. The woman advised that she and a friend had driven from Tucson during the morning to search for rocks and minerals in the St. David area. The woman advised that they were in a wash several miles from Apache Power Road when the 56-year-old man began digging in the side of the wash wall. The woman advised that she heard a noise and when she looked towards her friend, there was a large pile of debris and rock where he had been standing. The woman added that she had to make her way out of the wash and flag down a passing motorist for help.
Public safety personnel began digging in the area of the dirt pile while the Cochise County road yard responded with a backhoe to assist in getting to the man who was trapped. At approximately 5:00 p.m., workers located the body of 56-year-old William T. Lawrence of Tucson, who was then transported to Richardsons’ Mortuary. The next of kin was notified with the assistance of the Tucson Police Department.
The investigation is being continued by the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office.