The Armored Van Heist Story: The Mysterious Disappearance of Stolen Money and FBI Investigation
On November 28, 1994, an armored money transport van was parked in a mall parking lot in Arizona, USA. Despite its ordinary exterior, designed to avoid drawing attention, it was fully armored against bullets and any attempted breaches, so much so that it would literally require a bomb to penetrate it. The van's driver was inside, while his partner went into the mall to complete a task. Minutes later, when the partner returned, he was surprised to find the van and its driver gone, along with a million dollars that was inside. When investigators arrived, they were shocked that no one around the area had seen or heard anything. If thieves had stolen it, they would have needed immense force to breach it, and surely someone would have noticed. So how did the van disappear? Was the driver involved? Or did the thieves invent an ingenious method to take it silently?
Van Details and Crew
The vanished van was a small Ford Econoline, belonging to Wells Fargo, one of the largest money transport companies in America. Despite its ordinary appearance, the van was heavily fortified with bulletproof armor and impenetrable windows, making its doors impossible to open from the outside without bombs or explosive force. Inside the van were two individuals: the driver, who was armed with a handgun, and a money collector, also armed with a handgun. The money collector's job was to exit the van, collect cash from businesses, and bring it back to the van for transport to the bank. After the money collector went inside the mall, the driver remained alone, waiting. Once the money collector had retrieved the cash and returned to the parking lot, he found no trace of the van; the armored van had vanished.
Initial Investigation and Search for the Driver
Immediately after the van's disappearance, the money collector contacted the police and reported the incident. The police then notified the FBI, as any case involving armored money transport vans is considered a federal matter. Police officers and FBI investigators arrived at the mall parking lot to investigate the incident. The first person they interviewed was the money collector, who told them that only about five minutes had passed from the moment he left the van until he returned, and he found neither the van nor his driver colleague. He also indicated that the total amount of money inside the van exceeded one million dollars. Investigators interviewed individuals who were present in the mall, its parking lot, or around the area during that period, but everyone reported not noticing anything strange or suspicious. Investigators did not obtain a single witness who could help them describe what happened.
Van and Body Discovered
Investigators were baffled; how could such an armored van disappear without anyone noticing? Police patrols initiated an extensive search for the van, also utilizing helicopters. The search radius focused on the mall and extended for tens of kilometers, with an emphasis on adjacent neighborhoods and areas. Investigators believed that those responsible for the theft would have abandoned the van as quickly as possible, in the nearest location. During this period, investigators began looking into the background of the van's driver, John Magash, and discovered he had no prior criminal record. The FBI obtained a search warrant for the driver's apartment, and upon arrival, they found the apartment to be very neat and normal, with nothing to suggest that John Magash was preparing to flee. Later, the FBI received a tip from an individual who claimed to have seen the van parked in a church parking lot, matching the announced specifications and license plate number. Upon the police's arrival at the church parking lot, they found the missing van. The shock came when they looked inside the van and saw a body lying on the floor. Initially, they couldn't identify the body because the van's engine was still running and its doors were locked from the inside. Investigators had to contact the money transport company to open the van, and only then were they able to confirm that the body belonged to the driver, John Magash.
Forensic Findings and New Tactics
Upon close examination of the van's interior and exterior, investigators found no signs of forced entry, indicating that the operation was carried out with high professionalism, meticulously planned and executed. Forensic experts searched the van thoroughly for any traces the perpetrators might have left behind, but the van was completely clean. No hair, DNA, or fingerprints linking to the perpetrators were found. The only things forensic experts found were some fingerprints belonging to money transport company employees. Inside the van, there were remnants of coins, likely left behind by the thieves due to their heavy weight and low value, while all the paper money was gone. Investigators had no clear lead to the criminals, but they began analyzing the situation step by step. They determined that the perpetrators were likely several individuals, as one person could not have carried out such an operation alone. They also possessed expertise in dealing with the police, as they left the van in an area outside the city limits, which would distance it from the search area and place it under the jurisdiction of another police department.
Identities of Suspects Revealed
During the autopsy, the forensic pathologist found small fragments of the bullet that hit the driver, but they were too small to determine the exact type of bullet. This type of bullet shatters into small pieces upon impact, a method typically used to prevent police from tracing the bullet or the weapon used in the crime. Based on the autopsy, the forensic pathologist concluded that the shooting occurred from a relatively long distance, at least 10 meters or more, as there was no powder residue from the weapon on the bullet fragments. Investigations continued in the following days, and finally, the FBI obtained a new witness named Morgan who could provide a fresh lead. The witness stated that he saw the van leaving the mall parking lot at high speed, followed by a red pickup truck moving at the same speed, but he wasn't sure if they were together. Morgan couldn't recall any other details, such as the number of people he saw or the license plate number of the red truck. Investigators asked witness Morgan to come with them to the FBI office to be subjected to a hypnotic regression expert who could stimulate his memory. Under hypnosis, witness Morgan was able to recall that there were two people in the van and one person in the red pickup truck following behind, suggesting at least three suspects. Morgan was also able to partially recall the red pickup truck's license plate number, remembering that it contained the digits 2, 3, and 7, but he couldn't recall the exact order of the numbers or any letters or symbols.
Following Leads and Arresting Suspects
After the hypnosis session, investigators brought in a forensic sketch artist. Based on Morgan's description, a sketch of the person he saw was drawn, and the individual had distinct features, including long hair and a thick beard. Several days after the sketch was published in the media, the police received a call from a woman who believed she knew the person in the drawing. The woman refused to speak directly, fearing those around her. After an investigation, the FBI discovered that the woman's driver's license was expired. They used this as a pretext for the local police to take her to the station, serving as a cover for investigators to interview her secretly. The woman informed investigators that her friend, Jodi Espinoza, called her after seeing the sketch on television and told her that the man resembled her boyfriend. The investigators thanked the woman for her cooperation, then went to Jodi at her workplace and questioned her about the theft and whether her boyfriend had any involvement. Jodi agreed to answer and stated that her boyfriend, James Grisham, indeed resembled the person in the television sketch. She also informed investigators that her boyfriend, James, had a close friend named Timothy Ring. She mentioned that both of them had been experiencing financial difficulties, but suddenly began purchasing expensive items such as jet skis and watches. This information was highly valuable, and investigators became almost certain they had identified the culprits.
Surveillance and Evidence Gathering
Due to the suspects' expertise, the FBI decided to monitor them with extreme caution. Ground and air surveillance teams were assigned to track them 24 hours a day. During surveillance, FBI agents noticed that James and Timothy were spending large sums of money without any legitimate source of income. After several weeks, the FBI finally identified the third accomplice, a bearded man named William Ferguson, who turned out to be a former police officer forced into early retirement due to certain issues, fitting the profile of someone expert in weapons and police procedures. The FBI put the three under surveillance and began monitoring them. Later, the investigators received new information confirming they were on the right track. A person named Michael Sanders came to the department and told them that in the previous November, the month the robbery occurred, he, Timothy Ring, and James Grisham were together reconnoitering armored money transport vans, and that a former police officer nicknamed "Vergie" (a nickname for William Ferguson) was helping them. Although this individual's statement was just words without conclusive evidence, it confirmed that the investigators were on the right track. Investigators used a trash search tactic, where they would collect the suspects' discarded trash bags and search them for any useful evidence. In one of the bags, they found papers with information and drawn routes of money transport vans.
Pressure Tactics and Confessions
After a period of surveillance, investigators were unable to find new evidence, so they decided to try and create evidence themselves. They opted to record audio confessions from the suspects. Through surveillance, investigators were almost certain that the three suspects used James Grisham's apartment for their meetings, as it was the most frequent gathering place, and James lived alone. The FBI decided to install listening devices in the apartment. One night, after confirming James was out, some FBI agents infiltrated his apartment and installed the listening devices in hidden locations. Now, the FBI could eavesdrop on the conversations taking place in James's apartment. They were also tapping their phones and calls. Investigators knew that the three suspects would not randomly discuss the operation, so they decided to release misleading information that might prompt the three to talk about the operation. The FBI issued a press release containing false and misleading information about the operation, such as descriptions far removed from the suspects. After the press release, they began eavesdropping and waited for the three to meet. As expected, the three met in James Grisham's apartment and began discussing the information mentioned by the FBI in the press release, laughing and enjoying themselves, as the investigations were far from them.
Confronting James and Arresting the Gang
Despite their discussions, they did not explicitly state that they carried out the operation. Investigators continued to eavesdrop hoping to find something new. One day, they intercepted a call between Timothy and James discussing the purchase of expensive cars, and they were concerned that this might draw attention to them. Timothy also mentioned in the call that his blood pressure was rising because of the third member with them, James Grisham, saying that he had become weak and nervous, and this made him afraid that he would do something wrong and expose them. From this conversation, investigators understood that Timothy was the gang leader, and James was merely a follower, and that Timothy treated him harshly. Investigators decided to focus on James and try to make him more anxious. One of the things they did was leave a drawing of his face on his apartment door. When James saw the drawing, he was surprised and scared. A few days later, an investigator placed a business card with his name and phone number on James's apartment door, and on the back of the card, it read "Evidence 173". Investigators monitored James's reaction when he got the card. When James saw the card, he immediately felt fear. And when he flipped the card and saw "Evidence 173" written on the back, he knew there was trouble.
Full Confession and Trial Outcomes
Immediately, James retreated from his apartment, got into his car, and drove off. The FBI pursued him from the air with a helicopter to avoid detection. James continued to drive further and further until he reached an empty spot in the middle of the desert. Then, he got out of his car and called his friend Timothy. James was extremely nervous as he spoke to Timothy, telling him that he had found an investigator's card with "Evidence 173" written on it on his apartment door, and that he was afraid the police were monitoring his home and suspecting him. Timothy kept trying to calm and reassure him, telling him not to worry, to just go home and act naturally, and that he would come to him the next day to talk. James returned to his apartment and slept that night. The next morning, Timothy went to James's apartment, and investigators listened to the entire conversation, which was long and lasted about an hour. Timothy was trying to calm James, who was clearly agitated and uncomfortable. At the end of their conversation, Timothy told James, "If the police had evidence against you, they would have stormed your apartment and arrested you by now."
Arrest and Incriminating Evidence
Upon hearing this conversation, investigators realized they had gathered enough evidence against them, even if they hadn't explicitly stated that they carried out the operation. Therefore, they decided it was time to act and arrest them. The next morning, arrest warrants were issued, and police forces moved towards their homes. James Grisham was arrested in his home without resistance. As for William Ferguson, the former police officer, he attempted to resist but officers subdued him and placed him under arrest. Regarding Timothy Ring, because he had previously worked as an informant for the FBI in past cases, they contacted him and asked him to come in to discuss a matter related to one of the cases he had been involved in as an informant. Timothy agreed to come, but what he didn't know was that this summons was a trap to apprehend him at the FBI office. Indeed, when Timothy entered the FBI office, undercover agents were waiting for him in the lobby to arrest him. The undercover agents quickly ambushed him and apprehended him before he could react. Thus, all three were arrested and were in FBI custody.
Crime Details and Sentences
The next step was to search their homes and residences. Among the evidence found in Timothy's house was a paper detailing the distribution of the money among the three; it had the first letters of their names, the total amount stolen, and each person's percentage. This paper was added to the list of evidence against them. In his garage, they also found his red pickup truck, but its license plate numbers were completely different from the numbers recalled by witness Morgan under hypnosis. Investigators also found a bag containing a large amount of cash in Timothy's house. During the search of the other suspects' homes, they found almost all of the million dollars stolen from the van, with only about $100,000 missing, which they likely spent over the past three months. The evidence was now conclusive against them, and investigators began interrogating the three defendants. Timothy Ring and William Ferguson refused to speak or cooperate with the investigation in any way. James Grisham was the only one who showed some remorse for the crime they committed. After much pressure and attempts, James told them that Tim was the one who fired the shot. Following this confession, James agreed to speak and cooperate with investigators, recounting the details of the operation, each person's role, and how they managed to steal the armored van despite all its security measures and protection.
Meticulous Planning and Execution
James informed investigators that planning for the operation began approximately six months before its execution, and that Timothy was the mastermind who encouraged them to join him. Initially, they tracked and monitored a large number of armored money transport vans, charting their routes on a map and noting their stopping locations and movement times. After several months of surveillance and tracking, they found the suitable target: the van driven by the murdered driver, John Magash. They focused on this specific van and meticulously studied its route from start to finish. One of the reasons they chose this particular van was its regular stop at the mall during the afternoon, when fewer people were around, and John Magash consistently parked in the exact same spot. These factors would aid them in carrying out their operation without drawing attention. The mall was almost the van's last stop, meaning it would have accumulated a significant amount of money by then. Most importantly, they noticed that the driver, John Magash, would always open the van door slightly to smoke a cigarette whenever he stopped at this mall. This was the vulnerability they needed to penetrate the van's defenses. Even their choice of the operation date was meticulously planned: they selected November 28th because it was Thanksgiving, a time when businesses thrive, meaning the van would be carrying more cash than usual.
The Moment of the Crime and Escape
When the day of execution arrived, James Grisham and William Ferguson were waiting. They first waited until the money collector had exited the van and moved towards the mall to collect the cash. Immediately after, as usual, they saw the driver, John Magash, pull out his cigarette and open the door slightly to smoke. This small opening, approximately 20 centimeters, was enough for a skilled shooter like Timothy Ring to aim through. Timothy had undergone professional training in rifles and sniping, and even participated in shooting competitions. Timothy was waiting in the red pickup truck at a not-so-distant location, perhaps 15 meters from the van. When he saw the driver, John Magash, open the door, he readied his rifle and aimed at him. The rifle was equipped with a suppressor to prevent the sound of the shot from drawing attention. Through the small door opening, Timothy managed to hit the driver with a shot to the side of the head. Incidentally, according to forensic analysis of the body, the driver did not die immediately but remained alive for a period before succumbing. After the driver fell, James and William immediately got into the van and drove off, while Timothy followed them in the red pickup truck. All of this happened in complete silence, without anyone around the mall or its parking lot noticing anything strange.
Disposal of Evidence and Sentences
The van continued down the street, followed by the red pickup truck, until they reached the church parking lot. This church was considered outside city limits, meaning they had entered another city, which was part of their plan to delay the police's discovery of the van and complicate judicial procedures by involving more than one police department. After stopping in the church parking lot, they immediately began transferring the money from the van to the pickup truck, leaving behind only the coins. Then, they left the van in the church parking lot and immediately drove the pickup truck to an isolated spot in the desert. There, they burned all their clothes and all the evidence that could link them. James also told investigators during his confessions that the pickup truck's license plate was fake and that they buried this fake plate in the desert where they burned the evidence. Investigators asked James to take them to this location, and James agreed. There, investigators indeed found a pile of burned items, including clothes and belongings, and they were able to recover the fake pickup truck license plate, which surprisingly bore the same numbers recalled by witness Morgan under hypnosis, confirming the accuracy of his memory. In the end, the three defendants were tried and sentenced. James Grisham and William Ferguson received similar sentences of approximately 30 years in prison, as they were accomplices in the operation. As for Timothy Ring, being the mastermind of the operation and the killer who shot the driver, he faced the harshest sentence. At the beginning of his trial, Timothy pleaded not guilty and denied being the one who killed the driver, and his case continued in court for several years. Ultimately, the jury found him guilty, and the judge sentenced him to death in 1997. However, the death penalty was not carried out, and his case was later appealed to the Supreme Court, and the death penalty was overturned. Currently, Timothy Ring is serving a life sentence in prison.