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UPDATE: 61-year-old man found dead near Vail was stabbed, shot in the head

One person found dead near Marsh Station Road Wednesday morning
PCSD responds to fatal truck vs. train crash
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UPDATE (1/13)

An interim complaint obtained by KGUN 9 offers more details on the arrest of 24-year-old Kiara Tyler for her alleged involvement in the death of 61-year-old Vernie Garrison.

Staff with Union Pacific Railroad contacted Pima County Sheriff's Department about a train that had struck a vehicle. Railroad staff found Garrison's body inside of the truck, the complaint said.

Troopers with the Arizona Department of Public Safety went to Garrison's residence and made contact with his three grandchildren. They confirmed to DPS, the complaint said, that Garrison had left earlier in the evening with Tyler.

DPS subsequently contacted PCSD to let them know that they had located Tyler on Interstate 10. She had injuries and said she had been shot and stabbed, the complaint said.

Troopers said she appeared intoxicated and she refused to identify herself. Tyler was transported to the hospital.

A search warrant was obtained for Garrison's residence, his truck and a bag Tyler had with her when she was found, the complaint said.

Garrison had a clump of hair in his hand that matched Tyler's hair, the complaint said. It was collected for evidence.

On Jan. 9, an autopsy was conducted on Garrison, the complaint said, and the death was ruled a homicide, with the cause being a gunshot wound to the head, the complaint said.

Garrison also had stab wounds on his body, the complaint said.

A .38 caliber revolver was located in the truck near where Garrison was found. A curved knife covered in blood was also found. It matched the sheath located in the bag DPS troopers located where Tyler was found, the complaint said.

The children were able to provide descriptions of Tyler and the clothes she was wearing when they last saw her. A backpack, described by the kids as a bag they had seen Tyler carrying, was located at the scene of the truck.

The bag had multiple items of clothing with blood on them, the complaint said.

Tyler did not provide a statement about the incident.

Train death turned homicide

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UPDATE (1/10)

The Pima County Sheriff's Department has provided further details regarding the incident.

Deputies responded to a reported traffic collision involving a train near 19752 East Marsh Station Road around 12:42 a.m. Wednesday.

Upon arrival, they found 61-year-old Vernie Garrison dead inside his Dodge Ram pickup truck.

The vehicle had minimal damage, indicating a minor impact with the train. The train crew was not injured.

DPS reported an aggravated assault involving 24-year-old Kiara Tyler, who was found with visible injuries along Interstate 10, near the scene of the collision.

She was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

PCSD detectives determined that the crash and the assault were connected. Evidence collected indicated that the injuries sustained by Mr. Garrison were inconsistent with a typical traffic collision and deemed suspicious.

Following the investigation, Ms. Tyler was arrested and booked into the Pima County Adult Detention Complex on a felony charge of second-degree murder.

The investigation is ongoing. PCSD urges anyone with information about this incident to contact 911 or 88-CRIME.

KGUN 9 will continue to provide updates as more details become available.

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UPDATE (7:12 a.m.): PCSD tells KGUN 9 the fatal crash involving a pickup truck and a train is being investigated as a suspicious death.

They are also looking into a possible connection between the crash and an aggravated assault incident report from DPS. That investigation is in its early stages and could not be confirmed, PCSD said.

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PCSD is investigating this incident as a suspicious death. Additionally, DPS had a separate incident reported as an aggravated assault. That person was transported to a local hospital for further medical treatment. PCSD is currently investigating that incident as possibly being related however the investigation is in its early stages therefore we CANNOT confirm that they are related.

The Pima County Sheriff's Department is investigating a fatal crash involving a pickup truck and a train that happened southeast of Vail Wednesday.

PCSD found one dead person after responding to the crash near East Marsh Station Road.

Union Pacific says a train collided with a pickup truck just after midnight. The train crew was not hurt.

KGUN 9 will keep you updated on-air and online as we receive more information.

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Jacqueline Aguilar is a multimedia journalist at KGUN 9. Born and raised in Yuma, AZ., she is no stranger to the unforgiving Arizona heat. Now this U of A wildcat is excited to be back in Tucson and is looking forward to involving herself in the community. Share your story ideas with Jacqueline by emailing jacqueline.aguilar@kgun9.com or connecting on Facebook, Instagram or X.

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Blake Phillips is a reporter for KGUN 9. Originally from St. Louis, Mo., Blake grew up in Sierra Vista. During his college tenure at the Missouri School of Journalism, Blake worked for the NBC affiliate KOMU-TV in Columbia. He is excited to return to a place he calls home and give back to the community in which he grew up. Share your story ideas and important issues with Blake by emailing blake.phillips@kgun9.com.