Tri-City Man Murdered, Son Arrested: Authorities

UNION CITY, CA — A Union City man was arrested last month on suspicion of killing his father at a campsite in Arizona, according to local sheriff's officials.

Francis Klettke, 21, was arrested during a traffic stop in Union City on Oct. 29 and was extradited back to Arizona last week.

On Oct. 27, his 60-year-old father Dale Klettke, also a Union City resident, was found fatally shot at a campsite southeast of Camp Verde, a town north of Phoenix, Yavapai County sheriff's officials said.

After responding on 4:45 p.m. that day and finding the elder Klettke's body, investigators learned that a witness saw the victim at the campsite a day earlier with another man with long hair who sat in a silver
Jeep Liberty, sheriff's officials said.

That evening, the witness heard what sounded like multiple gunshots but didn't notify law enforcement. The next morning, the witness noticed the Jeep was gone and discovered Dale Klettke's body wrapped in tent
material, according to the sheriff's office.

Investigators determined Francis Klettke matched the description of the second man seen at the campsite and a DMV record check confirmed Dale Klettke owned the Jeep.

Francis Klettke was arrested early on the morning of Oct. 29 and was booked into Alameda County Jail.
Yavapai County jail records show he has since been extradited to Arizona and was booked into jail there last Wednesday.

— Bay City News; Image by Renee Schiavone, Patch