Tempe investigation leads to murder charges in Yuma
The investigation into a man's alleged sexual assault of a 73-year-old Tempe woman also has led to charges in the 1998 murder of a Yuma woman whose body was found near a local canal.
First-degree murder charges were filed this week in Yuma Justice Court against Graham Bussi Gravely for the long-unsolved homicide of Linda Dorsey, according to Yuma Police Department.
Gravely, also once convicted of kidnapping in Yuma, was being interviewed by Tempe investigators about the sexual assault when he asked to talk with someone from YPD. Gravely then gave local authorities undisclosed information that implicated him in the Yuma murder, YPD reported.
Dorsey's body was found in the desert near the East Main Canal, just north of the Rio Santa Fe Apartments in Yuma, according to police.
Local detectives conducted an "extensive investigation" at the time of the murder, but no viable leads ever developed, according to a YPD news statement.
Sgt. Brian Scanlan with YPD said he was pleased to see justice finally come for Dorsey and her case.
"It is satisfying in the respect that the case is essentially solved, and family members and friends can finally have some closure," Scanlan told The Sun. "Additionally, should a conviction result from this case, the responsible person(s) may not have the opportunity to harm anyone else."
Gravely was spotted driving around Yuma shortly after the sexual assault in Tempe, according to a newspaper file article from early August. Gravely was eventually arrested in Puerto Penasco, Mexico.
Seven years ago Gravely was convicted in Yuma County Superior Court on charges of kidnapping, according Sun files. He was sentenced to five years in prison. Gravely had tried to force a woman into her pickup truck parked in the lot at Fry's Food Store, 4th Avenue and 24th Street.
YPD encourages anyone with information about the Dorsey murder to contact Detective Bill Martin at 373-4688. People can also give information anonymously by calling 78-CRIME.
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Darin Fenger can be reached at
dfenger@yumasun.com or 539-6860.
