Ariz dad allegedly dragged from home to help stranger, found murdered by ‘smoldering’ vehicle

Arizona authorities believe a stranger seeking help with his car dragged a man from his home and caused his death.

The sheriff’s office said in a news release that 53-year-old Paul Clifford was found dead near a “smoldering vehicle” on Redington Pass in Pima County, near Tucson.

The sheriff’s office believes Clifford was approached by a stranger at his home asking for help with “car trouble.” Sabrina Vining who said in GoFundMe that Clifford was her father, he wrote in: Post on Facebook that on December 23, her dad took her truck late at night “to start someone else’s vehicle.”

The sheriff’s office said family members became concerned when Clifford did not return home and contacted law enforcement.

Police say the incident was “potentially related to a stolen vehicle” that was later found at an apartment complex near Prince Road and Roger Road in Tucson.

It was not immediately clear how far his home was found from the stolen vehicle and Clifford’s body; police declined to provide the location after pressure from PEOPLE.

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On GoFundMe, Vining wrote that her father was a “gentle giant with a huge, caring heart.”

“I am so sorry for my mom and I am doing everything I can to support her at this time,” Vining wrote, adding that while she feels uncomfortable asking for funds, “my mom will need help with this devastation ”

The investigation is ongoing. Police have not released information about a possible suspect or person of interest or whether the suspect acted alone or in a group.