Nearly a decade after 79‑year‑old Leroy Baillie was found dead in his north Tucson apartment, police say they have finally identified the man they believe killed him. The break comes with a bitter catch: the suspect died in Maricopa County before detectives could make an arrest, so the case will close with no one ever charged.
Tucson police say new leads prompted detectives to reopen the long-stalled investigation, and the evidence now points to a man who was 39 at the time of the crime. Investigators have notified Baillie’s family and are moving to formally close the file.
How Baillie Was Discovered
On Nov. 19, 2014, officers responding to a maintenance call about a foul odor at the Fox Point Apartments near Campbell and Prince were led to Baillie’s unit. Inside, they found the 79‑year‑old bound and showing signs of blunt‑force trauma. Advanced decomposition, however, limited how thoroughly investigators could document his injuries.
According to 13 News, that grim discovery launched a homicide investigation that would go cold for years.
Financial Clues and Surveillance Footage
Detectives eventually uncovered unauthorized transactions on Baillie’s bank accounts and forensic evidence showing his financial information had been used in the weeks before his body was found. KGUN 9 reports that surveillance video and related evidence tied that activity to a specific person of interest.
Who Police Say Was Behind It
Tucson police say that person was Larry Kenneth Woods, who was 39 at the time of the crime. As reported by 13 News, Woods had been seen at Baillie’s apartment and was arrested days before Baillie’s body was discovered while carrying the victim’s financial documents.
Suspect Died Before Charges Could Be Filed
The department’s Cold Case Unit reopened the file in 2025. Detectives say they were able to gather additional evidence that, in their view, would have supported pursuing murder charges. By then, though, records showed Woods had died in Maricopa County in September 2024.
KGUN 9 reports that the medical examiner listed Woods’ manner of death as undetermined and noted blunt‑force injuries.
Why Detectives Went Back to the Case
Cold‑case units across Arizona and around the country have been retooling in recent years, leaning on newer forensic methods and tighter coordination between agencies to squeeze more out of old evidence. Officials with the Arizona Attorney General’s Office announced in January that the state was expanding cold‑case resources and interagency support to help local departments revisit unsolved homicides.
What “Closing” the Case Really Means
Tucson police say they will submit Baillie’s case to be closed administratively. When a suspect cannot be prosecuted because they are dead, an agency can still record the case as cleared under federal crime‑reporting rules.
The Bureau of Justice Statistics notes that an “exceptional clearance” requires investigators to identify the offender, establish probable cause, and document a reason outside law enforcement’s control, such as the suspect’s death, that prevents arrest or prosecution.
Next Steps and Impact on the Community
Detectives have notified Baillie’s family and say their submission will formally close the case file. Officials did not release additional details about the evidence or any related inquiries.
There will be no trial and no sentencing, but investigators say the findings at least give Baillie’s loved ones some answers after more than ten years of uncertainty.
