April 12, 1988🇺🇸Document
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Tucson, Arizona: Death of APRO Founder Coral Lorenzen
Coral Lorenzen, co-founder of the Aerial Phenomena Research Organization, died in Tucson. Her death triggered a succession dispute over APRO's extensive UFO archives, ultimately transferred to controversial custodians.
Background
Death and Organizational Impact Coral Lorenzen, co-founder of APRO since 1952, passed away in Tucson, Arizona on April 12, 1988. Her death marked the end of nearly four decades of civilian UFO investigation and archival work.
Archive Succession Dispute The Center for UFO Studies (CUFOS) sought to acquire APRO's extensive records, but faced opposition from Larry Lorenzen (Coral's son), who preferred the archives remain in Arizona. Tina Choate and Brian Myers of the International Center for UFO Research successfully convinced the APRO board to transfer the materials to them in 1989 at no cost.
Problematic Custodianship Choate and Myers immediately restricted access to the files and relocated them to an undisclosed garage location in the Scottsdale or Sedona area. Former APRO board member Robert Dean later identified them as fraudulent operators. By 2010–2012, both were implicated in an illegal fossil trafficking scheme.
Preservation Efforts Fortunately, APRO case files predating 1957 had been preserved digitally, ensuring partial recovery of this significant UFO research collection.
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