Escapee known for “suicide by bear” deathwish taken to New Mexico for murder trial
KINGMAN, Ariz. — Tracy Province, who escaped an Arizona prison last summer and went on a crime spree was taken to New Mexico on Saturday to face capital murder charges .
Province, 42, was flown from Kingman, Ariz., to Albuquerque. He was sentenced in Kingman on Friday to more than 38 years in prison on charges of escape, kidnapping, armed robbery, aggravated assault and weapons misconduct stemming from crimes in Arizona after his escape.
The sentencing cleared the way for him to be sent to New Mexico to face murder charges in the deaths of Gary and Linda Haas of Tecumseh, Okla.
Province, John McCluskey and Daniel Renwick escaped July 30 from a medium-security prison in Kingman. Authorities say McCluskey’s fiancée and cousin, Casslyn Welch, threw cutting tools over the prison’s fence. All four were recaptured within three weeks.
Province, McCluskey and Welch face capital murder and carjacking charges stemming from the Haas’ killings.
Prosecutors have said Province, McCluskey and Welch targeted the Haases, both 61, at an Interstate 40 rest stop because they had grown weary of traveling and sleeping in their car and wanted the couple’s camping trailer.