Arizona

Elected official, adoption attorney smuggled pregnant women into the U.S., then paid them to give their babies up for adoption: Officials

 Elected official, adoption attorney smuggled pregnant women into the U.S., then paid them to give their babies up for adoption: Officials
Fraud

Authorities in Utah and Arizona have criminally charged an Arizona public official for allegedly operating a trafficking ring that involved transporting pregnant women from the Marshall Islands to the U.S. to give birth, then paying them to give their babies up for adoption. Maricopa County Assessor Paul Petersen—who is also an adoption attorney licensed in …

SILVER Alert issued for autistic teen girl who vanished near home
Missing
September 16, 2019

SILVER Alert issued for autistic teen girl who vanished near home

Authorities in Arizona have issued a SILVER Alert for a 14-year-old girl who was reportedly last seen walking out of her home on Sunday. Citing Glendale Police, KSAZ reported that Alicia Navarro was spotted taking off on-foot from her home, which is in the vicinity 45th Avenue and Rose Lane. Navarro was described as having …

2 left dead in apartment home after pair of armed robbers force their way in, cops say
Murder
July 27, 2019

2 left dead in apartment home after pair of armed robbers force their way in, cops say

Authorities in Arizona say a man was arrested following a home invasion that left two individuals dead earlier this month. According to the Arizona Republic, 27-year-old Mitchell Johnson is accused of forcing his way into an apartment unit in Phoenix on July 15 and fatally shooting the occupants as part of a residential robbery. Reports …

Weeks after husband accused of molesting children, childcare provider arrested for failing to report abuse: Cops
Child Abuse
July 20, 2019

Weeks after husband accused of molesting children, childcare provider arrested for failing to report abuse: Cops

Authorities in Arizona say a woman is facing criminal charges months after her husband was arrested on suspicion of multiple counts of child molestation. According to KSAZ, 46-year-old child care provider Leslie Marie Little is accused of failing to report child neglect by George Little. Police reports indicate investigators interviewed her as part of her …

Brittany Zamora: 20 years behind bars for teacher who had sex with 13-year-old boy in class with 11-year-old lookout
Teacher Scandals
July 12, 2019

Brittany Zamora: 20 years behind bars for teacher who had sex with 13-year-old boy in class with 11-year-old lookout

An ex-teacher involved in an Arizona student sex scandal learned her fate during a sentencing hearing this week. As CrimeOnline previously reported, court records show 28-year-old Brittany Zamora pleaded guilty earlier this year to charges that she engaged in sexual conduct with a 13-year-old student as another juvenile male stood watch outside the classroom door. …

Man cuts head off roommate’s dog, claims it was revenge for rent she owed his mother: Cops
Animal Crimes
June 18, 2019

Man cuts head off roommate’s dog, claims it was revenge for rent she owed his mother: Cops

Authorities in Arizona say a man was arrested on suspicion of brutally killing his roommate’s pet dog. According to KPHO, 21-year-old Jose Vega Meza is accused of cutting the animal’s head off before attempting to hide its mutilated remains from the dog’s owner. Police reports allege Vega Meza’s roommate saw him attempting to load a …

Sixth-grade teacher admits to having sex with student while classmate stood watch
School Crimes
June 12, 2019

Sixth-grade teacher admits to having sex with student while classmate stood watch

A former teacher in Arizona confessed Monday to having an ongoing sexual relationship with a 13-year-old male student. People accessed online court records stating that Brittany Zamora, 28, pleaded guilty to sexual conduct with a minor, molestation of a child, and public sexual indecency. The ex-Las Brisas Academy instructor was arrested in March 2018, after …

Mom shoots ex-boyfriend dead in garage hours after he takes paternity test amid custody battle
Murder
June 10, 2019

Mom shoots ex-boyfriend dead in garage hours after he takes paternity test amid custody battle

An Arizona woman was sentenced to life in prison last week, years after shooting her ex-boyfriend dead amid a custody dispute involving their then-infant son. Kathryn Sinkevitch, 35, is ineligible for parole for the first-degree murder of Michael Agerter. Surveillance videos captured Sinkevitch opening fire on Agerter as he pulled into the garage of his …

Stan Lee’s former business manager embezzled six figures, separated Marvel Comics legend from family and friends: Cops
Elderly Abuse
May 26, 2019

Stan Lee’s former business manager embezzled six figures, separated Marvel Comics legend from family and friends: Cops

Authorities in Arizona say the late Stan Lee’s former business manager has been arrested on suspicion of elder abuse in connection with his relationship with the driving force behind Marvel Comics. According to Deadline, Keya Morgan was arrested on Saturday in Arizona on charges filed out of Los Angeles County, California. The suspect reportedly took …