Michael Kent Poland and his younger brother, Patrick Gene Poland, were both born and raised in Arizona, United States. The brothers grew up in a modest, working-class family. Their father was known locally for doing construction and manual labor, and the family maintained a relatively stable household through the 1950s and 1960s. While details about their early years remain limited, both brothers displayed a pattern of drifting between low-paying jobs, occasional petty crime, and schemes aimed at quick financial gain.

By the 1970s, the Poland brothers had become increasingly involved in small-time illegal activities and financial troubles. Michael, the older brother, attempted to present himself as a businessman and occasionally worked in jewelry sales, but his ventures were often unprofitable or under investigation. Patrick, the younger of the two, was quieter and less dominant, following his brother’s lead in most decisions. Their family and neighbors described them as secretive and ambitious but prone to risky behavior and poor judgment.

Financial strain played a large role in motivating the brothers toward the 1977 heist. Prior to the robbery, both men had accumulated debts and struggled to maintain steady work. They spent months preparing for what they viewed as a lucrative and “clean” robbery, closely observing the schedule of an armored courier service that regularly transported money between Phoenix and Prescott. The brothers’ plan was detailed and methodical—they decided to impersonate law enforcement officers, using fake police lights, badges, and sirens to stop the armored van.

By the spring of 1977, they had rehearsed the plan multiple times, waiting for what they believed would be the perfect opportunity. Their meticulous planning and calculated deception would lead to the deaths of two innocent men and one of Arizona’s most infamous double murders.

On May 24, 1977, the Poland brothers, Michael and Patrick, executed a robbery of a Purolator Courier armored car. They disguised themselves as police officers and pulled over the security van on Interstate 17. The guards, Russel Dempsey and Cecil Newkirk, were ordered to open the truck. Once the guards complied, the brothers took control of the situation. They assaulted the guards, and in the process, one guard died from a heart attack, prompting Michael Poland to kill the other guard, Cecil Newkirk, using a makeshift garrote.

After stealing $293,000, the brothers disposed of the bodies by putting them into black canvas bags and dumping them into Lake Mead. The authorities began investigating the disappearance of the guards, initially looking for them as missing persons. However, blood was found in the abandoned armored van along with evidence of a struggle.

On June 16, 1977, the body of Cecil Newkirk was discovered in Lake Mead. An autopsy revealed that he had been beaten and also had marks consistent with being tased. The FBI eventually found the second guard, Russel Dempsey, a few weeks later, also in a canvas bag. His death was ruled as a result of strangulation and a heart attack.

Investigators focused on the Poland brothers after finding evidence linking them to the robbery. Surveillance revealed unclear details about their activities around the time of the crime. Reports from witnesses indicated that two men resembling police officers had interacted with the guards shortly before their disappearance.

The brothers were arrested on May 18, 1978, after a lengthy investigation. Federal and state prosecutors charged them with robbery, kidnapping, and murder. They were convicted in federal court on February 15, 1979, and sentenced to 100 years in prison. In November 1979, they were also found guilty of murder by an Arizona state jury and faced the death penalty.

After multiple appeals and a ruling by the Arizona Supreme Court, their murder convictions were overturned. A retrial was declined due to insufficient evidence. However, prosecutors sought to connect the deaths of the guards to the brothers with forensic evidence, including the discovery of Newkirk’s watch, which helped establish a timeline for the events.

On November 18, 1982, the jury found them guilty of murder again, and their death sentences were affirmed by the United States Supreme Court. Michael Poland was executed by lethal injection on June 16, 1999, while Patrick Poland was executed on March 15, 2000. Both brothers expressed remorse shortly before their executions.