Man killed by blunt force
Slaying of homeless Page resident
stuns Arizona community

By John Christian Hopkins
Diné Bureau

PAGE, Ariz. — Eric Smothers, the 57-year-old homeless black man that was killed in Page on Feb. 21, died from blunt force trauma to the head, according to the Coconino County medical examiner’s office.

Smothers — described as “eccentric,” but friendly — was found nearly beaten to death in the city park on Feb. 21. He died at the hospital shortly after his discovery.

Investigations by Page and county law enforcement agencies continue. Though police can’t reveal all the information collected from the crime scene, it has been reported that they did collect some evidence and DNA samples.

Page police are awaiting a report on that from the medical examiner.

Smothers, who had been living on the streets of Page since mid-February, was also known to have been in Moab and Blanding, both in Utah, and also in Cortez, Colo. Smothers’ murder is the first homicide in Page in 10 years.

Former Page Mayor Duane F. Heatwole took the crime personally — putting up $1,000 reward from his own pocket. He was incredulous that such a heinous crime could happen in Page.

A $3,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to an arrest regarding the crime. The reward was initially $1,000, but it was increased when Heatwole and the City Council each added another $1,000 to the offer.

Anyone who has information that might aid the investigation is encouraged to call the criminal investigation division at (928) 645-4114 or (928) 645-2463. Police Capt. Ray Varner is in charge of the investigation.

John Christian Hopkins can be reached at Hopkins1960@hotmail.com