Case Details

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This person was missing Missing Since 02/02/2002

Missing Since:

Missing Since 02/02/2002

Missing From:

Missing From Phoenix, Arizona

Classification:

Classification Endangered Missing

Gender:

Male

Race:

Race White

Date of Birth:

Date of Birth 10/14/1943 (81)

Age:

Age 58 years old

Height and Weight:

Height and Weight 5’9, 180 pounds

Clothing/Jewelry Description:

Distinguishing Characteristics:

Distinguishing Characteristics Caucasian male. Brown hair, blue eyes. Russell’s nickname is Chuck. He has the phrase “Born To Raise Hell” tattooed on his left shoulder.

Details of Disappearance:

In early 2002, Russell and his fiancée, Catherine Nelson, disappeared. They lived in Phoenix, Arizona, and had planned a trip to Tucson on February 2nd to buy a Ducati motorcycle they’d seen advertised. They left in their red Ford pickup truck, but were never seen again.

Their truck was found abandoned in Tucson on February 7th, with Russell’s checkbook inside. Nothing else was found, and there were no signs of a struggle. This was very strange, as they were a close couple who wouldn’t leave their dog alone without making other arrangements. The ad for the motorcycle was likely a trick; investigators believe they were lured to Tucson.

Years later, in 2015, Brian Ferry, a man with a history of fraud and auto theft, was charged with their murders. Forensic evidence helped lead to his arrest. Although he was convicted in 2018, he died by suicide in prison that same year.

Because of the circumstances—the abandoned truck, the unanswered questions, and the subsequent arrest and conviction—it’s believed Russell and Catherine were victims of foul play.

Agency:

Phoenix Police Department 602-261-8042

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