Robert Keith Palomares
Armored car guard Robert Keith Palomares was shot and killed during a robbery outside a movie theater in Phoenix. Suspect Jason Derek Brown, a con artist and alleged killer, was placed on the FBI Ten Most Wanted list and has never been caught.
On November 29, 2004, Robert Keith Palomares, a 24-year-old armored car guard for Dunbar Armored, was shot in the head and killed while servicing an ATM outside an AMC movie theater in Phoenix, Arizona. The shooter stole a bag of cash—reportedly around $56,000—and fled on a bicycle. Witnesses described a clean-cut, athletic-looking man, and surveillance footage captured the suspect's approach.
Investigators quickly identified Jason Derek Brown, 35, as the prime suspect. Brown was a Mormon-raised con man and self-styled entrepreneur with a history of fraud, who had been living extravagantly in the Scottsdale area despite having no legitimate income. He was known for his good looks, charm, and love of golf and surfing. Evidence linking him to the crime included witness identifications, his proximity to the scene, and physical evidence found in his apartment.
Brown vanished immediately after the robbery-murder. His car was found abandoned, and investigators believe he may have fled to Mexico, Central America, or various locations in the western United States. In December 2007, he was placed on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. The FBI offered a reward of up to $200,000 for information leading to his capture.
Despite numerous tips and reported sightings over the years—including possible sightings in Portland, Oregon and various locations in Mexico—Brown has never been found. Some investigators speculate he may be hiding in a Mormon community abroad, while others believe he may have died. His case remains one of the FBI's most high-profile active fugitive investigations.
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