A 23-year-old man is back in the Valley after being extradited on murder charges.
On November 30, U.S. Marshal’s brought Craig Michael Strong to Phoenix from Washington State.
In May of this year, Strong was arrested in Whatcom County on gun charges. While there, he allegedly admitted to being involved in a December 2014 homicide in Phoenix.
Strong told authorities he buried a body at a drug store near 43rd Avenue and Thomas Road. Police went to the location and found the remains of 54-year-old Darren van Eaton.
Detectives say Eaton traded his Social Security disability debit card to 48-year-old George Reed for drugs and housing. Police say in the two-and-a half- years after Eaton’s death, Reed and his wife Teniqua withdrew or charged nearly $50,000 from a bank account tied to Eaton’s Social Security disability benefits.
Police arrested the Reeds in May of this year on suspicion of fraudulent schemes, theft-control property, and credit card theft.
Strong now joins them. He is being held on a $1 million bond on charges of first-degree murder and concealment of a dead body.
