Suspect in Mother’s Day murder is found dead
by Ambria Hammel

NORTH VALLEY – The only suspect identified by Scottsdale police in the murder of a 36‑year‑old woman early Sunday has been found dead–an apparent suicide.

The body of Thomas Kenneth Bliven, 37, was discovered by a motorist‑assist officer with the Arizona Department of Public Safety on Monday afternoon in an unpaved area near Table Mesa Road, east of I‑17, in the far north Valley. Bliven, who was wanted in connection with the murder of Nicole Traxler of Scottsdale, was found in his white Nissan Altima between 1:15 and 1:30 p.m. with a gunshot wound to the torso. Police had been looking for the vehicle since Sunday.

“Now we have two families affected by this tragedy,” said Sgt. Mark Clark. Police identified Bliven as an acquaintance of Traxler who was killed early Sunday in her Scottsdale home while her 12‑year‑old son was upstairs. According to authorities, the boy called 9‑1‑1 from his closet at 1:20 a.m. May 14, Mother’s Day, to report sounds of gunfire downstairs.

Officers arrived at 7717 E. Buteo Drive, northeast of Scottsdale Road and Thompson Peak Parkway in the Grayhawk community, to find Traxler with multiple gunshot wounds. She died at the scene. The boy was not physically hurt.

“He (Bliven) was and is the only suspect in this shooting,” Clark said. Bliven and Traxler were high school friends, and Clark said jealousy may have been an issue in the relationship.

Bliven had served a 15‑year term in the Arizona State Prison Complex in Florence for second‑degree murder and aggravated assault. He was released in August 2005.