Scott Pierce Murder – Who Killed Scott Pierce? – One week after his wedding, Scott Pierce was shot and killed in front of his new bride. In June 2008, while Jason Skaggs and another man were searching for another suspect, Clifton Bloomfield allegedly broke into the Pierces’ home and shot Scott Pierce in the neck, according to the criminal complaint. In NBC Dateline episode titled, “A Shot in the Dark,” the investigation that led to the capture of the murderer is described in detail. Let’s examine the crime scene in greater detail, shall we?
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Who Was Scott Pierce and How Did He Die?
The murder of Scott Pierce at the beginning of his promising career shocked everyone who knew him. When she was murdered, Scott and Katherine had just moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, from California to begin a new life together. Numerous friends and acquaintances of Scott attest to his generosity, sincere affection for Katherine, and ability to strike up conversations with complete strangers. Given how much he was loved and admired by so many, Scott’s tragic demise is all the more shocking.
On June 28, 2008, Scott and Katherine were exhausted after a long day and decided to turn in early. Three o’clock in the morning, Katherine awoke to the sound of dogs barking and went outside to investigate. After spotting a shadow following her around the house, she became convinced that someone had broken in. As the broom was held against her back, she initially believed it to be her husband.
When Katherine turned around, she saw that the intruder had broken into their home and was holding her at gunpoint with a sawed-off shotgun. Katherine attempted to explain to the man that she did not know anyone by that name, but he insisted she fabricates a story. After hearing his wife’s screams for assistance, Scott rushed into the room and immediately began fighting off the intruder. The intruder ultimately defeated Scott in a fight, shot him in the neck, and then fled. It appeared that the death of Scott had little impact on him.
Katherine, fearing for her husband Scott’s life, called for assistance and began administering first aid. Sadly, the victim’s injuries proved fatal, and he died before medical assistance arrived. According to the autopsy, a gunshot wound to the neck caused Scott’s death. At the crime scene, authorities discovered a foreign male DNA sample and evidence of forced entry, both of which point to external influence.
Who was Responsible for Scott Pierce’s Death?
Since there were no witnesses to Scott’s murder, the initial police investigation was challenging to conduct. The group inquired locally, including among Scott’s friends and acquaintances, but came up empty-handed. Numerous friends and acquaintances of the couple praised them as trustworthy individuals who are always willing to help others and never create enemies. In fact, the episode implied that Katherine was initially a suspect before she was cleared.
The police learned from Katherine’s interrogation that the intruder demanded Manny before coldly murdering Scott. Katherine and Scott moved into the new home they had purchased from Manny six days before the murder. Manny told the police during his interrogation that he had slept with Jason Skaggs’ wife and was afraid that Jason would kill him. As this was the first promising lead in the investigation, the police moved quickly to locate and question Jason. Initially, Jason attributed the murder to another individual and claimed that he and his wife were camping for several hours outside of town on the day of the murder. His wife promptly disproved his alibi, allowing the police to continue interrogating him until he finally confessed to knowing Scott’s murderer.
Clifton Bloomfield had served time for kidnapping, robbery, and assault when Jason tipped off the police. They tracked him all the way to a prison in Arizona after Jason’s tip. Bloomfield had relocated to New Mexico after pleading guilty to a home invasion and was on probation at the time of Scott’s murder, as revealed on the show. Police searched Clifton’s residence and discovered a shotgun, a mask, and a bulletproof vest, all of which point to his involvement in the murder. Therefore, they chose to question him at the police station.
Where Is Clifton Bloomfield Now?
Clifton Bloomfield confessed to killing Scott Pierce at the police station, but he attributed the death to an accident. He stated that he intended to kill Manny because he had slept with Jason’s wife and that Manny was leaving the Pierce residence when he was attacked by Scott. Clifton’s DNA was discovered at the crime scene of Scott’s murder, and it also linked him to the unrelated December 2007 murders of Tak and Pung Yi. Moreover, according to forensic evidence, he was implicated in the October 2005 murders of Josephine Selvage and Carlos Esquibel.
In 2008, Bloomfield pled guilty to all five counts of first-degree murder and was sentenced to 195 years in prison. Therefore, he is still serving his sentence in Santa Fe at the New Mexico State Penitentiary. Jason Skaggs pled guilty in 2009 and was sentenced to thirty-five and a half years in prison for various offences, including aggravated burglary with a deadly weapon, criminal solicitation to commit murder, conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary with a deadly weapon, and second-degree murder. Jason is currently serving his sentence at the Lea County Correctional Facility in Hobbs, New Mexico.