Bullhead City police discovered a woman in her home months after she had died, after her body had gone unnoticed for several months.
The incident began January 16, when Bullhead City police were called to a home on the 1600 block of Turquoise Road after a passerby told a neighbor that a body was inside and the resident's vehicle was missing, according to The Standard Newspaper. Detectives believed the woman had been dead for several months. Preliminary evidence suggested the home may have been ransacked after her death. Her vehicle had also been stolen.
Papineau, 38, was identified in a separate narcotics case. The woman's vehicle keys and title were stolen, and the car was later sold to another person after the title was fraudulently signed over.
Arizona Felony Classifications
Under Arizona law, theft of means of transportation is a Class 3 felony under A.R.S. § 13-1814, while fraudulent schemes and artifices is a Class 2 felony under A.R.S. § 13-2310, according to the Tamou Law Group.
Papineau isn't a stranger to local law enforcement. In August 2025, he was arrested by Bullhead City police for possession of drug paraphernalia following a narcotics search warrant at a Palma Plaza residence that turned up methamphetamine and fentanyl, according to a report shared in The Buzz. Seven people were arrested in that SWAT raid, which followed community complaints about drug activity.
A Disturbing Pattern in the Tri-State Area
In September 2022, police investigating a burglary discovered a homeowner's mummified remains in a bathtub and arrested a woman, as reported by CBS News. Neighbors in that earlier case had assumed the homeowner simply moved away after going unseen for a year.
MoneyLion describes Bullhead City as a retirement destination and reports that residents aged 65 and older make up 34.3% of its population, per MoneyLion.
How River Watch Works
River Watch is a free program offering wellness check-ins to seniors living alone.
The program is sponsored by Tri-State Cares, whose president is Amy Devine, according to Tri-State Cares. Devine also serves as Director of Social Services for River Valley Home Health and Hospice. The organization provides no-cost non-medical support and caregiver resources for regional seniors. It also offers food assistance to seniors.
The Bullhead City Senior Enrichment Center is at 2275 Trane Road.
Residents can learn more about River Watch at www.tristatecares.com.
