Santa Monica High Graduate Found Murdered

On January 26 Bruce Gaudet, 56, was found dead inside his burning townhome in Phoenix. Gaudet was a 1971 graduate from Santa Monica High School and received an Associate Arts degree from Santa Monica College.

Michael Lee Crane, 31, is a suspect in the murders of both a Paradise Valley couple last month and Gaudet. Crane has been indicted for murder of the Paradise Valley casein a 10-count Maricopa County grand-jury indictment, including multiple counts of first-degree murder, kidnapping, arson and armed robbery. Prosecutors plan to file charges in the case involving Gaudet. Crane is in custody on suspicion of murdering Lawrence and Glenna Shapiro in their Paradise Valley home and setting the house ablaze.

 Prosecutors also unsealed the indictments of five other suspects on charges including theft, trafficking in stolen property and hindering prosecution in their alleged roles of trying to use or sell stolen property and hiding Crane.

The only connection between the two crimes was a court document released last week charging Brittany Beinhauer, 27, with possession of Gaudet's stolen property, and charging Kelly Ann Steward, 29, with the Shapiros' stolen property.

Court documents allege that Crane and an unnamed accomplice broke into Gaudet's home near 16th Street and Maryland Avenue on Jan. 26, held Gaudet hostage, shot him and set his condominium on fire then stole his 2011 Dodge sedan.

Prosecutors accuse Beinhauer of being in possession of Gaudet's credit cards and an expensive knife taken from his condo.

Maricela Sanchez, 27, of Phoenix was arrested after a high-speed chase driving Gaudet's car near Yuma, Arizona. The chase occurred just hours after Gaudet's body had been found by authorities.

Gaudet was born on August 15, 1955. While in high school, he played for the soccer team and would often be seen proudly wearing his letterman’s jacket. After earning his Associate Arts degree from Santa Monica College he attended California State University at Northridge and pursued a degree in Accounting. At the time of his death he was the Premium Sales Manager for General Cigar covering Arizona, New Mexico and Nevada.

Memorial Services were held on February 12th at the College Park Baptist Church in North Las Vegas; His remains were interred at Davis Funeral Homes Memorial Park- Paradise Gardens Cemetery.