The Stars

Summary of The Stars

by Audiochuck

33m•January 13, 2026
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Overview of The Stars (Park Predators — Audiochuck)

This episode recounts the unsolved 2003 double homicide of 20-year-old Brandon Rumbaugh and 19-year-old Lisa (Guerreri) in a remote camping area off Bumblebee Road in Yavapai County, Arizona. Host Delia D’Ambra summarizes the victims’ last movements, the evidence recovered, investigative leads over two decades, family impact, and recent forensic developments that have renewed hope for identification through DNA genealogy.

Key facts & timeline

  • Discovery: Oct 19, 2003 — friends found Brandon and Lisa dead in the bed of a white 2004 Ford pickup (borrowed from Lisa’s mother) around 3:30 p.m., roughly two miles off I‑17 in Yavapai County.
  • Last known: The couple left Friday evening to camp and were expected back Saturday morning. They’d been at an undesignated campsite in the Bumblebee area.
  • Cause of death: Autopsies (Oct 20) — both died of multiple gunshot wounds to the head, apparently inflicted while they were sleeping. No drugs/alcohol detected; no signs of robbery or sexual assault reported.
  • Estimated time of homicide: Some time Friday night or Saturday morning (investigators believe they were killed before Saturday afternoon, when witnesses saw the truck parked).
  • Case status: Unsolved (as of the episode). Investigation remained active with periodic media appeals and reward offers.

Victims & family impact

  • Brandon Rumbaugh: 20, Marine Reserves veteran, personal trainer, described as joyful and talented (dancer), had recently moved in with Lisa.
  • Lisa Guerrero: 19, worked as a secretary, bright presence at work; dating Brandon for one year.
  • Families: Deeply affected — public fundraising and memorials followed the murders. Lisa’s mother Paula was an outspoken advocate for the case until her death in 2021. Brandon’s mother, Desiree, eventually channeled grief into yoga teaching and outreach.

Evidence recovered & scene details

  • No shell casings or obvious tire tracks were found near the truck.
  • Missing items: Lisa’s keys were not found at the scene; a camera case (owner later said it was her camera case) was left but the camera was missing.
  • Disposable camera: Broken disposable camera found ~100 feet away containing film. Photos developed included: two photos of Lisa, one of Brandon (each in the truck bed), and one heavily overexposed photo showing a light fixture in a corner. The photos likely are the last images of them alive.
  • Additional detail: Investigators later determined the overexposed image showed a restaurant in the Bumblebee area (business no longer the same in later years). It was hypothesized the camera may have been thrown, but circumstances are unclear.

Leads, persons identified, and investigative actions

  • Michael (34): A Phoenix man driving a black Ford F‑150 with a camper shell was publicly named as someone authorities wanted to speak with. He voluntarily talked to detectives and was effectively cleared.
  • Argument lead: Investigators learned of an earlier doorway argument at the couple’s apartment (night or two before camping) with an unknown white male (approx. 40, tall, husky build). No name was obtained and the lead fades from later reporting.
  • Reward: Silent Witness initially offered up to $10,000 (contributors included family and community donors); by mid-December 2004 the reward reached ~$16,000.
  • Public appeals: Local and national coverage (including America’s Most Wanted and CNN) and a videotaped reenactment (2004) sought additional witnesses in the busy Bumblebee recreational area.

Later developments & forensic re-examination

  • May 2004 case comparison: Another double homicide at a rural campsite occurred; investigators concluded those killings were unrelated after the suspect in the later case (Rusty Rankin) died by suicide.
  • 2019 media release: Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office disclosed missing items (camera case, keys), details about the disposable camera photos, and that the overexposed image matched a Bumblebee-area restaurant.
  • September 2023 breakthrough: A detective and cold‑case volunteers reviewed evidence and submitted an item from the scene to a DNA lab. The sheriff’s office confirmed they were doing DNA genealogy work to try to identify whose DNA it is. The specific item tested has not been publicly disclosed.
  • Investigators also noted some evidence suggesting Lisa may have partially awakened during the attack, though that’s not certain.

Related cases & risk context

  • The episode compares the case to similar execution-style campground killings (e.g., Lindsay Cutshall and Jason Allen in Northern California), but ballistic evidence showed those were unrelated.
  • Host mentions a later 2025 double homicide in nearby Maricopa County; that case moved more quickly to an arrest, highlighting contrasts in investigative outcomes.
  • Public safety reminder: A Forest Service officer’s quote emphasized situational awareness while camping — “When you go camping, you need to think safety... because you’re out there underneath the stars.”

Notable quotes

  • Yavapai meaning: the county name derives from a Native American word meaning “people of the sun.”
  • Paula Guerrero (Lisa’s mother): “Here we are 14 years later. I just hope that this is solved before I go, before I die. I want to know who did it…”
  • Forest Service officer: “When you go camping, you always have to be aware of your surroundings and who is around you... Never take things for granted, because you’re out there underneath the stars.”

How to help / action items

  • If you have information, contact:
  • If you believe you recognize the disposable-camera photos or the overexposed restaurant image, report that to Silent Witness or the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office.

Takeaways

  • The murders of Brandon and Lisa remain unsolved despite early investigative work, community support, media attention, and a reward.
  • New forensic efforts (DNA testing and genealogy) provide renewed investigative avenues; that effort could identify a suspect if usable DNA is matched.
  • The case underscores the vulnerability of undesignated campsites, the value of public tips, and how cold-case re‑examinations and modern DNA techniques can revive long-dormant investigations.