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This photo, taken July 10, 2004, shows the latest information on Safford. The city has grown substantially since Cliff Rilek's reign of terror ended.
Author Jim W. Coleman (pictured here) is now working on the sequel to his novel Omens - a book tentatively entitled Omens II: The Rogue.
When arriving in Safford, this is one sign you can not miss. When heading south, you'll go through the towns of Pima, Thatcher and Safford. It was here that a horrific evil stalked the night ... and you can almost feel it in the daylight hours. When you hear the jingle of the ice cream truck on the streets of Safford, I can bet that your blood will run cold. I know ... because mine did.
This, an Arizona highway sign along State Route 70 is a sobering reminder of the havoc Clifford Scott Rilek spawned in Safford, Arizona, in the Jim W. Coleman novel, "Omens."
Author Jim W. Coleman poses beside a welcome sign in July, 2004, while on another fact-finding trip to Safford.
This photo was taken very near the spot that Cliff Rilek is alleged to have stolen Laura Collins' car and kidnapped the daughter of Safford Police Chief, Daryl Collins.
It is in this cemetery that Johnny Turner would have been buried. Several other Rilek victims were rumored to be buried here as well, but the author was unable to locate the graves.
This is the photo of the electrical tower Cliff Rilek climbed during the lunar eclipse. From there, he detected Lucille's broken down car, initiating the events documented in "Omens."
When the Eastern Arizona Journal reported that the police chief believed a werewolf was prowing the deserts surrounding Safford, no one took the account seriously. If they had, this truck may have been pressed into duty.
When first driving into Safford, one can't help but notice the city's growth. Here, a local Wal-Mart store is dwarfed by the mighty Mt. Graham.
This is a wide angle shot of the area where Stephanie Li, Jeff Carlin and the others may have been attacked by the werewolf during a late-night desert party. This could also be the area that Arnie Tipton shadowed Daryl Collins and Guy Stapleton.
It was in a narrow gulley like this that Stephanie Li hid from the werewolf. She was one of the fortunate ones, as she survived to tell her story.
This is a photo of the Safford Police Station, where Police Chief Daryl Collins would have worked while hunting down Clifford Scott Rilek.
This is a photo of the Graham County Sheriff's Station, where Graham County Sheriff, Guy Stapleton, would have worked with Daryl Collins to pursue Clifford Rilek.
This is the beautiful Graham County Courthouse, situated on 8th. Ave. in Safford, Arizona. The Police Department and Sheriff's station are two blocks further north of the courthouse.
It was in a vehicle very similar to this one that Graham County Sheriff, Guy Stapleton, kept an eye on the suspicious activities in Roper Lake State Park.
This is a closer shot of the plaque mounted on the wall of the Graham County Courthouse.
This is a wide shot of the entrance to Roper Lake State Park, where former Graham County Sheriff Stapleton may have believed a group of Satanists were conducting illicit activities after dark.
"Omens" author Jim W. Coleman takes a break from the summer heat at the entrance to Roper Lake State Park, just outside of Safford, Ariz.
You can bet that the cult group Graham County Sheriff, Guy Stapleton, pursued never paid any of these fees. In the end, the results of Stapleton's investigation were inconclusive, and no tie was ever established between the cross burnings and Clifford Scott Rilek.
In the book "Omens," the local paper is referred to as the Eastern Arizona Journal. But this, however, is similar to the newspaper office from where Arnie Tipton gathered information about Safford's werewolf.
Though now the Bull Pen Bar, this building stands very close to where The Naked Harem Saloon may once have stood - before the Harem building was condemned in early 1995 and torn down to make way for development.
The gravesite of Bessa Stapleton, late wife of Graham County Sheriff, Guy Stapleton.
This is the Victims' Rights Memorial situated at the Graham County Courthouse. Former Police Chief Daryl Collins might have been invited to speak when this memorial was established, but would have had to decline due to scheduling conflicts. Those who see this memorial can't help but think of Johnny Turner and all the other victims of Clifford Scott Rilek.
This photo, taken July 10, 2004, shows the massive fire that consumed Mt. Graham and endangered the Mt. Graham Observatory. Following the fire, additional remains were discovered that forensic scientists attributed to Cliff Rilek. In the author's research of Rilek's life, however, there were no indications that Rilek had spent any time up on the mountain. But when evidence teams searched Rilek's house, a number of "Bigfoot" books were discovered, leading the author to believe that Rilek may have fantasized about Bigfoot creatures in addition to werewolves.
This is the turnoff to the town of Punkin Center, where Safford Police Chief, Daryl Collins, pursued the werewolf, Clifford Scott Rilek.
The picturesque little town of Punkin Center, located at the northern tip of Roosevelt Lake.
Seeing this, it is understandable why Safford Police Chief, Daryl Collins, dreamed of large, ripe pumpkins.
This is the area of Roosevelt Lake where Clifford Scott Rilek is believed to have perished at the hand of Safford Police Chief, Daryl Collins.
This is the ACTUAL photo Stella Moon took out the window as she, Daryl and ShellyLynn drove away from Roosevelt Lake for the final time.
(Photo courtesy Stella Moon).
Author Jim W. Coleman poses with newspaper reporter Temple Stark at the Graham County Courthouse on July 10, 2004. Stark was kind enough to give Coleman a tour of town during a recent fact-finding trip to Safford.
Read the review by Temple Stark.
At the conclusion of a recent fact-finding trip to Safford, Jim W. Coleman dropped in at the Pub and Grub to talk with the locals about his book and about the past history of Safford and Clifford Scott Rilek. Here, local residents Kitte and Jolita pose in front of the Pub and Grub with a copy of "Omens." If you are ever in Pima, Arizona, be sure to stop in here for great conversation and the best burger you can get in the Safford area.
Here, librarians pose with copies of Jim W. Coleman's books "Secret Things" and "Glass." Check them out today! Or click the link below to buy your own copies!
If you've read "Omens," you know it is ripe for a sequel. Whatever happened to Cliff Rilek, Daryl Collins, Stella Moon and Guy Stapleton? Here, author Jim W. Coleman sits on the Graham County Courthouse steps and works of chapter five of the sequel, tentatively entitled: OMENS II: THE ROGUE.
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