Sept. 20, 2010

PHOENIX – Whenever she got into his truck, Karl Markovic’s stepdaughter says he always had Christian music on the radio. In fact, Karl and his wife had just found a new church and were loving it. His stepdaughter says he was the kindest person she knew.

“He would see someone out on the street that looked like they needed money and he would give the last of his money to that person,” she said.

Karl, who grew up in Mesa, was a sergeant in the Army National Guard.

“He loved his job,” his stepdaughter said. “He loved his uniform….He loved serving our country.”

Phoenix Police Sergeant Darren Burch says Karl, 45, was supposed to attend a weekend drill on August 7, 2010.

“Unfortunately he never made it,” Burch said.

Burch says Karl was supposed to report at 5:30 a.m. at the armory near 52nd Street and McDowell. Instead, he was found three hours later on the opposite end of the property. He had been stabbed and was laying on the ground next to his truck.

“The weapon was his own knife, and it does not appear that there was any kind of robbery at all,” Burch said. “Did he park there willingly? Was it somebody that he knew? Was he stopping to lend a hand to somebody? We don’t know.

“Right now it’s truly a murder mystery. Police have no idea would have done this. There is no evidence at the scene to suggest a robbery. There (are) absolutely no clues whatsoever at this point.”

His army buddies called him “Markey Mark” or “Kovic.” After two tours of duty, the rest of us might call him a patriot.

“For him to die here on the city streets is just shocking,” Burch said.