ST. GEORGE — A tip provided by a viewer of "America's Most Wanted" helped lead St. George police to a suspect in the 2003 shooting death of Jordan Allgood, a 43-year-old rare coin dealer.
"It is 14 months to the day since this crime occurred," St. George Police Chief Marlon Stratton said Tuesday during a news conference to announce the arrest. "I would say this was a very difficult case, very difficult. It took a lot of man-hours."
Daniel Robert Campbell, who already was in custody at a Las Vegas jail, was charged Tuesday with murder, aggravated robbery and aggravated kidnapping. Each of the first-degree felony counts carries a penalty of up to life in prison.
Campbell, 52, also was charged with possession of a deadly weapon in connection with the murder. An extradition hearing will be scheduled within the next few days, said Washington County Attorney Brock Belnap.
Allgood was working alone on Nov. 23 at his store, a reconverted older home in an established St. George neighborhood, when he was shot once in the chest. Allgood managed to call 911 and an ambulance transported him to Dixie Regional Medical Center, where he later died.
A store security camera recorded much of the event. Police later released portions to the media in an effort to identify a man on the tape.
"We do not believe Mr. Campbell acted alone. We are continuing our investigation," said Stratton. "We believe his motive was robbery. We don't believe the suspect knew the victim."
The police department received several tips after the TV show aired on July 31, 2004, and Stratton said the show was helpful in moving the case forward.
"The show generated several leads. This one helped us a great deal," he said, adding there is a $15,000 reward to the tipster if the suspect is convicted.
Family spokesman Kent Perkins said the Allgood family was grateful to the police for their dedication in resolving the case.
"We extend appreciation to the larger community, who have been so caring and concerned about our family," said Perkins, reading from a prepared statement.
No immediate members of the Allgood family were at the news conference, he said, although many city officials were in attendance.
Six months after Allgood's murder, family and friends decided to reopen the coin store as a way to perpetuate the owner's memory.
"As a group, we want to uphold his image and continue on his legacy," Allgood's father-in-law, Robert Knudsen, said in another prepared statement. "We want to treat people the way he treated them. He was in the business of making friends."
E-mail: nperkins@desnews.com