Vernie Garrison Obituary, Death; – Authorities have provided the first details regarding the individual identified by his family as the man discovered murdered inside his truck near Vail on Wednesday.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department has confirmed the identity of the victim as 61-year-old Vernie Garrison. While the family has opted not to participate in interviews at this moment, they have issued a statement to News 4 Tucson expressing their sentiments:
“At this time, we do not have any information to share about our brother. We appreciate everyone’s prayers and support during this difficult period.” A 24-year-old woman has been apprehended on charges of second-degree murder in connection with Garrison’s death, which is being investigated as a homicide following a train collision early Tuesday morning.
At approximately 12:42 a.m. on January 8, deputies from the Pima County Sheriff’s Department responded to reports of a crash near 19752 East Marsh Station Road, located east of Tucson.
Upon arrival, they discovered Garrison deceased inside his Dodge Ram pickup truck, which was positioned near railroad tracks. The vehicle exhibited minimal damage, suggesting that the collision with the train was not severe.
Further investigation by PCSD detectives revealed that Garrison’s injuries did not align with those typically associated with a traffic accident. As the inquiry progressed, authorities linked the incident to 24-year-old Kiara Tyler, who was found nearby along Interstate 10 with injuries indicative of an assault.
She was subsequently transported to the hospital for medical care. Detectives have established a connection between the assault on Tyler and Garrison’s death, gathering evidence that ties the two events together and leading to the conclusion that Garrison’s death was indeed a homicide.
According to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, Tyler has been arrested and booked into the Pima County Adult Detention Complex on a felony charge of second-degree murder. The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities are encouraging anyone with information to contact 9-1-1 or report anonymously through 88-CRIME.
