PORTER, Burford

The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, AZ December 4, 1975, p. 16 Man commits suicide west of town The body of Burford Porter, 40, last known address Cambria, Calif., was found Friday, Nov. 28 eight miles west of town on U.S. Highway 60. Police say Porter committed suicide by running a garden hose from the exhaust system of his car to the tent which he had been occupying for three or four days. Investigating officer Gary Shira and Harry Jacobs found porter’s body inside the tent and reported it to police at approximately 11:00 a.m. on Friday. Deputy Shira said a suicide note, damaged by rain, was found next to the body. “The parts we could read did show signs of depression,” he said. Inside the tent were pictures of Porter’s ex-wife of six months. Police also found one picture of Patty Hearst, which was of particular interest to some Phoenix television news reporters. We know that Porter had attempted to send her (Patty) a $50.00 check. We also found a humorous card he was going to send her in jail. But the FBI doesn’t have anything on him…all we can say is that he may have been sympathetic to her cause. “There was no foul play.” Deputy Shira said. Deputy Shira said Porter had been transient for several months. Friends and family in Florida and Illinois said Porter had threatened suicide in the past. Police could find no apparent reason Porter had come to Wickenburg.