13 years later, Adam Campbell death remains mystery
ESCANABA — Thirteen years ago this week, the body of 26-year-old Adam Campbell was found in a burning vehicle in Escanaba. The Escanaba Public Safety Department is still investigating the case.
“Currently, the case status remains open. We have had several leads that came in within the last few years that we followed up on. None of the leads actually panned out with any information that was useful,” said Escanaba Public Safety Captain Darren Smith.
Campbell was last seen leaving Barron’s Bar on the 1100 block of Ludington Street at 2:30 a.m. on Saturday April 9, 2011, traveling westbound on the sidewalk. At 3:30 a.m., Escanaba Public Safety officers were dispatched to a car fire in an alley off the 300 block of South 19th Street. When the fire was extinguished, a body later identified as Campbell was found inside the vehicle.
Over the years, little has been released about Campbell’s death. A cause of death was determined by autopsy, but is not being released to the public due to the ongoing investigation.
Police have also not released who owned the vehicle Campbell’s body was discovered in, but have said it did not belong to Campbell.
Campbell had moved from Marquette to return to Escanaba to work and live closer to his son two months before his death. The investigation has not revealed anything in Campbell’s past that would have made him a target.
In past interviews, former Dt./Lt. Darrin Hunter, who is no longer with Escanaba Public Safety but was the lead officer on the case for many years, suggested Campbell’s death may have been a case of mistaken identity. He indicated another individual, also named “Adam,” may have been the intended victim.
Those with information about Campbell’s death or what may have happened in the hour prior to the car fire are encouraged to contact Escanaba Public Safety at 906-786-5911. The lead officer on the case is now Det/Sgt. Tabitha Turnacliff.
“We do encourage if anybody out there still has information to notify Public Safety, and we will follow up on any of those leads,” said Smith.