On February 2, 2002 a Phoenix couple, 58 year-old Charles Russell and 42 year-old Catherine Nelson, traveled to Tucson to purchase a motorcycle, but never returned home. On February 6, 2002 a Missing Persons Report was filed with the Phoenix Police Department after the couple did not show up for work. On February 7, 2002 the Tucson Police Department assisted with the investigation and located the truck that the couple had used when they traveled to Tucson. The truck had been abandoned in a church parking lot near East 22nd Street and South 6th Avenue.
Detectives thoroughly investigated the incident in 2002, but were unable to locate the couple. Due to information gathered, detectives believed foul play was involved with the disappearance of the couple. With no additional leads, the incident was cleared as an unsolved Missing Persons case.
Over the past 5 years, new leads were developed and the Tucson Police Department Cold Case Homicide Unit re-opened the case. Through a comprehensive investigation that included continuous follow-up, forensic evidence, and assistance from the Pima County Attorney’s Office, an arrest was made in the case. On January 28, 2015, Tucson Police Cold Case Homicide detectives
arrested 44 year-old Brian Ferry for the murder of Charles Russell and Catherine Nelson.
Brian Ferry was booked into the Pima County Jail on two counts of First Degree Murder. Detectives are still seeking additional details about the incident and are asking anyone with information to please call 88-CRIME.