Murder of Joseph Clifton by Richard Gordon investigated on Fear Thy Neighbor

Mugshot of Richard Gordon
Richard Gordon was sentenced to life for murdering neighbor Joseph Clifton. Pic credit: Arkansas Dept. of Corrections

This week, Fear Thy Neighbor travels to the rural Fulton County in Arkansas to investigate a dispute that ended in murder when Richard Gordon shot dead Joseph Clifton in 2009.

Clifton and Gordon were neighbors who had been in dispute over land for some time; unfortunately, their disagreement turned violent on September 3, 2009, when Gordon decided to kill his neighbor.

Clifton was in the cab of his truck on a trail when he was stopped by Gordon, who pulled out a .45-caliber semiautomatic pistol and shot him three times; he died almost immediately. Clifton’s 2-year-old son was sat in the truck, strapped into a safety seat, but thankfully, he was unharmed.

The police retrieved plenty of evidence to place Gordon at the crime scene; investigators found tractor tire marks and numerous shoe prints at the scene that matched to the killer.

After the murder, Gordon went home to his wife and confessed to her that he had committed murder. He told her that he had killed Clifton “graveyard dead” and that his victim had begged him not to shoot.

Richard Gordon tried to claim self-defense in Joseph Clifton murder

His wife’s testimony would later become crucial in obtaining a conviction for premeditated murder because Gordon tried to evade justice by claiming self-defense.

Clifton had had a .270-caliber rifle in his truck, which allowed Gordon to claim that he had defended himself when Clifton “brought the rifle up.” Gordon claimed he’d no opportunity to retreat and was forced to fire.

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However, witnesses, who’d arrived at the scene shortly after the incident, disputed this version of events; they said Clifton’s rifle was held down in its usual spot between the seat and the central console.

Gordon was put on trial in the Fulton County Circuit Court in September 2010, but that ended with a deadlocked jury. A second trial a month later ended in a mistrial, when it was decided that Gordon would be unable to get a fair trial in Fulton County as the citizens were too prejudiced against him.

A third trial was moved to Stone County, AR, and ended with Gordon’s conviction for first-degree murder. He was sentenced to life in prison plus 15 years.

More from Fear Thy Neighbor

Follow the links to read about more feuding neighbors that resulted in violence.

James Dellavecchia lay in wait for his neighbor, Scott Robbins, and when he appeared, he shot him dead; he also wounded Robbins’s stepdaughter Kirsten Snow and fired shots at his coworker.

Robert ‘Chad’ Bridges had gotten into a boundary dispute with his neighbors Myla and Jeff Oaks in Cleveland County, New Jersey. One day, an argument escalated to the point where Bridges fired at his two neighbors, killing Myla and wounding Jeff.

Fear Thy Neighbor airs at 10/9c on Investigation Discovery.

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James
James
2 years ago

His picture makes me ill!

tim
tim
2 years ago

The victims wife was responsible for his death. He wanted to do the right thing, but she wanted to be a b***h, and it got him killed. Well done lady! Hope you can sleep at night knowing your stubbornness got your husband killed.

Sharon
Sharon
2 years ago
Reply to  tim

I agree. She knew the guy wasn’t stable but she just bullied everyone including her husband.

Mari
Mari
2 years ago
Reply to  tim

Nobody but Mr. Gordon is responsible. He was a bully; went home & bragged Mr. Clifton was graveyard dead! It was their property & he was an anger old man who wanted to kill someone!

Phyllis Prater
Phyllis Prater
1 year ago

WHY is he smiling? NO REMORSE. Special place should be for “people ” like him. Going to speak MY mind. CRIMINALS have been allowed more rights than victims for FAR to long.

Presley Cass
10 months ago
Reply to  Phyllis Prater

He has NO…….REMORSE of his evilness, towards this man and the life he has taken. If the system, doesn’t take him then God will……..The Judge, Jury and Executioner.

Phyllis Prater
Phyllis Prater
1 year ago

HERE is my OPINION. CRIMINALS have been allowed too many rights while VICTIMS are given few. ESPECIALLY when caught RED HANDED. Law abiding citizens should NOT have to PAY to house, feed,and clothe these criminals. I am surprised that our government has stooped this low. WAIT, how am I able to expect MORE from our people in politics…learning every day that they are nothing but LIARS only looking out for themselves. Our country is RUINED. GOD PLEASE HELP US! Watch for lightning strikes you ridiculous people.

Kristin
Kristin
1 year ago

No remorse whatsoever. In fact he looks like he’s extremely proud that he killed someone. It is NO ONES fault but Rick Gordon’s. I don’t blame them for keeping the gate locked because it was NOT a county road. I live in the country and there’s nothing worse than having people think they have the right to be on property that is yours. And not just that but being loud and obnoxious at all hours. These days you have to protect your property and protect yourself.

Presley Cass
10 months ago
Reply to  Kristin

If the system of justice, doesn’t get him……..then GOD’S system of justice……will: The Judge, Jury and Executioner.

Presley Cass
10 months ago

What you reap……Richard Gordon, your will surely sow the consequences of your evil actions. You may have taken a life of a young married man, but you can’t take the love of a father……..from a young loved, son and wife. You’ll certainly will answer to God from your evilness of crime……..into the oblivion of Hell.

LesQuest
LesQuest
8 months ago

It is so hard to imagine someone, especially an older person well known to the community, actually plotting to kill or following through with a murder. That is, until it is done. Everything becomes clear, and all the “should haves” torture those close to the ones who were killed. In this tragedy, family and friends live with what might have been. They are forever victims trying to survive.

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