Category: Wrongful Death

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felony Homicide Personal Injury Wrongful Death

Phoenix Father Arrested for Baby’s Drowning

Phoenix Father Arrested for Baby's Drowning

Phoenix Father Leaves Baby In Bath By Itself

A Phoenix father has recently been arrested on homicide-related allegations for his three month old baby drowned in a bathtub. According to the court records, the father is being held on $180,000 bond.

Phoenix Police and the Fire Crews responded to the home that is located near the 27th Avenue and Van Buren Street on late Tuesday morning. They received a call that a child was not responding after the child was found in the bathtub.

The Young Father was Arrested

The young child’s father was arrested by the investigators by late afternoon. The nineteen year old father, Carlos Humberto Castillo, for the suspicion of second-degree murder as well as child abuse. The investigators made sure to emphasize the father’s “extreme indifference to human life” in the charging documents that was released on Wednesday morning.

The young father told the police that he had left the three month old baby and the other two children that were in the home (ages 1, and 3) in the bathtub with the water running so he could take a nap.

The three month old infant was found floating in the bath tub and had his eyes closed. When Castillo had found the baby he grabbed the baby and tried to get assistance from his girlfriend.

The baby’s grandmother tried to save the baby’s life by administrating CPR until the emergency workers arrived.

The baby was quickly taken to the Phoenix Children’s Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The father, claimed that he was only asleep for “two minutes” however the records show that his cousin had woke him up because the bathtub had overflowed and had began to flow underneath of the bedroom door.

When the police arrived to the scene, they said that the water was literally flowing out of the front door.

Luckily the other two children were not injured as well. The father is facing charges of child abuse because he left the children in a “dangerous situation”.

Source: https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2014/06/11/phoenix-drowning-death-arrest-abrk/10322901/

 

Categories
felony Wrongful Death

Mother Leaves Child Alone for 20 Hours

Child Abuse Cases in Phoenix

Mother Neglects Child by Leaving Him Alone for 20 Hours

Most parents are over the moon when they know they are having a child, once the child is here they do everything in the power to protect that baby. However, one thoughtless mother lost an innocent child when she decided to neglect and leave him alone for twenty hours.

The toddler was three year old, Austin Davis. He died alone when his mother left him alone for twenty hours. His mother, Megan McKeon had left on a Wednesday to go to work at a grocery store. She however, did not come straight home after work though. By the time Megan got home she found Austin lying on his back with his little eyes open. The little boy was showing no signs of life. Megan was arrested and charged with child abuse resulting in death which happens to be a felony.

The tragic part is that this whole situation could have been avoided. Megan is pretty much living like a single mother since Austin’s father is in jail for failing to register as a sex offender. She does have to go to work to provide for them, and she can not afford childcare.

Megan has no excuse as to why she left the toddler by himself. Megan’s mother said that she would have more than happy to watch Austin so that Megan could go to work.

Charity O’Konski (Megan’s Mother) Isn’t Taking Megan’s Side

All she had to do was call me. There’s no ifs, ands, or buts to what happened, it’s her fault no matter what happened. She is accountable for that baby.

Apparently this wasn’t the first time Megan had done this, she had done this “something like 20” other times. She didn’t just leave her son alone for work but after she got off work she spent the night with her boyfriend at his home. She did leave him with food, juice, and a movie. She figured everything would be fine since she had gotten away with this a few other times, but this time they weren’t quite as lucky and her poor innocent son was the one to pay for it.

The doctor that tried to revive Austin thinks that he may have ingested some medication or drugs. According to the investigators, Megan’s cabin was a complete mess, there were half eaten food as well as human waste all throughout the home.

Source: https://www.cafemom.com/articles/in_the_news/170698/3yearold_dies_after_his_mother?utm_medium=sem2&utm_campaign=prism&utm_source=outbrain-f&utm_content=0

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assault battery Pedestrian Accident Personal Injury Wrongful Death

15 Year Old Arrested for Killing Detention Officer

More Phoenix Shooting Concerns

Detention Officer Killed by 15 Year Old

According to the authorities, a Maricopa County Detention Officer was shot at random while he was in his own drive-way by a fifteen year old boy. The Fifteen year old has been arrested for killing the officer.

The Police Chief, Daniel Garcia stated that on Wednesday the fifteen year old would be charged as an adult for first-degree murder for the shooting of twenty-seven year old Jorge Vargas. The investigators have worked extra hard and hours to hopefully help bring closure for the victim’s family.

Police Work to Bring Closure for Officer’s Family

This arrest is the first step in that closure. We owe Jorge that.

Chief Garcia said that the suspect was a gang member wannabe. That is how the young man got the gun to begin with. However, the police believe that Officer Vargas was shot at random and that the teen had acted alone in this brutal act.

According to the report, Officer Vargas was attacked on August 8th at around four in the morning. He was working on his vehicle outside of his home at the time. The police were able to identify him quickly since he had his Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office employee uniform on.

Police are unsure of what happened for sure in the driveway on that early morning. According to the police, the fifteen year old had just left a party at around three in the morning. He was under the influence of drug and alcohol at the time.

The fifteen year old, whose name cannot be released due to his age, had been in the Maricopa County Jail. He is going to face an aggravated assault charge for an unrelated drive by shooting.

Officer Arpaio’s statement

I’m concerned whether the assailant knew our officer was an officer. It’s tough to convince me he didn’t know. Maybe one day, we’ll get a motive from this suspect.

The teens mother and friend have also been arrested. Cathy Seymour, the teen’s mother, is expected to be charged with “hindering prosecution of her son”. His friend, Ivan Montes who is 20 years old, was booked for “hindering prosecution and disorderly conduct”. They are boy in trouble for trying to get rid of the evidence, which would help the teen avoid detection from the police.
The police haven’t been able to find the gun that the teen used in the shooting, however they were able to use the shell casing at the scene to tie the teen to the shooting.

Source: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/25/leonard-moreno_n_3991784.html

Categories
assault Wrongful Death

Man Fatally Shoots a Woman and His Neighbor

Suspect Shot in Police Attempted Arrest

Search for Man that Fatally Shot a Woman and Wounded Neighbor

The Tempe police are searching for a male suspect that had fatally shot a woman and wounded his neighbor.

According to the authorities, the double shooting happened on Tuesday…May 20th. It was near 2:30 in the evening when the fatal shooting happened near an apartment complex in the parking lot.

They are looking for thirty-three year old, John Brazel for the suspect/person of interest in this fatal shooting case.

According to the report, the neighbor who got injured during the shooting, saw the man and woman arguing in the apartment complex parking lot. He then tried to intervene.

The police say that next, John Brazel pulled a gun out and allegedly shot the woman first and then went on to shoot the neighbor.

Description of the Man Responsible for the Fatal Shooting’s vehicle

John then fled the scene in a White Chevy Tahoe. The Tahoe license plate is : BDY6785 if anyone sees this vehicle please contact the authorities. They also said that in the back glass of the Tahoe there is a sticker of a rifle.

The woman was pronounced dead at the scene of the shooting. The male victim was taken to a nearby hospital. There are no names for the victims at this time.

Police say that the mane is armed and dangerous so be on the look out and if you see his vehicle call 911 A.S.A.P.!

Source: https://www.abc15.com/news/region-southeast-valley/tempe/police-investigating-shooting-in-tempe

Categories
felony Wrongful Death

Man Murders His 12 Yrs. Old Half Brother

Man Murders His 12 Yrs. Old Half Brother

 Violent Man in Jail for Murdering His 12 Year Old Half Brother

A violent man is set to appear in court for a trial in March 2016. The Phoenix man was charged for fatally stabbing his younger half brother. The brother was only twelve years old.

The police stated that Andrew Ward, 27 years old, killed the young Austin Tapia on March 12th.

The Man’s Motive for Killing his Younger Brother

Honestly, I just felt like killing.

The prosecutors are pushing or the death penalty for the suspect. Andrew Ward however, pleaded not guilty to the murder charge in his younger brother’s death.

While Andrew Ward has been in the Maricopa County jail, he was charged with first-degree murder in the death of his cellmate which happened on April 2nd.

The investigators believe that Ward used a golf pencil to stab his cellmate, thirty-three year old Douglas walker in the eyes. He first beat him and then forced a plastic bag and a peanut butter sandwich down Douglas Walker’s throat.

Andrew Ward also pleaded not guilty in Douglas Ward’s death. There has yet to be a trial date set for this new case.

Source: https://www.abc15.com/news/region-phoenix-metro/central-phoenix/andrew-ward-update-2016-trial-set-for-phoenix-man-in-boys-death

Categories
Personal Injury Wrongful Death

Woman Pleads Guilty to her Mentally Ill Brother’s Murder

California Injury Attorney

Carlena Pinkerton Pleads Guilty for Murdering her Brother

On Friday, A Phoenix woman had pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. For the 2012 death of her mentally impaired brother.

Twenty-Nine year old, Carlena Mollie Pinkerton was arrested in June 2012. This happened, after her brother had been taken to the hospital with injuries that proved to be from abuse.

According to the report, that when the man arrived at the hospital the doctors took notice that he was severely dehydrated, he also had a low body temperature and was underweight as well. That wasn’t all though, the man had various wounds on his body, some were even infected.

The hospital didn’t waste time in notifying to police of the possible abuse. The police got a warrant and searched the mans bedroom. According to their report, the room was pretty empty however, it did contain one litter box which had a strong odor that they thought was cat urine.

Joshua and Carlena told the police that they decided to take the victim to the hospital AFTER he had collapsed in the bathtub while he was fully clothed. Carlena said that her brother had stopped eating had been vomiting.

Despite hospital efforts, the man victim died in the hospital, as a result of his injuries. The autopsy showed that he also had suffered from a previously dislocated shoulder, some healing fractures, a possible broken nose and sores all over his body. The doctors believe that this is a result from him lying in the urine and feces.

Pinkerton pleaded guilty to manslaughter for this case. Carlena’s sentencing is to take place on June 20th.

Source of the Murder Case:

https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2014/05/09/phoenix-woman-pleads-guilty-death-brother-abrk/8910403/