Man gets life in prison for triple killings at Phoenix apartment that was set on fire
PHOENIX (AP) — An Arizona man was sentenced Monday to life prison in the killings of three people at a Phoenix apartment that was set on fire.
Chase Scott Christman, 31, of Mesa had previously pleaded guilty to murder and robbery charges stemming from the July 2024 deaths of Merissa Honeycutt, 27; Anthony Frederickson Ceccarelli, 25; and Samuel Lott, 37.
Prosecutors say Christman had gone to the apartment in Phoenix's Ahwatukee area to get drugs and steal money.
R.J. Parker, an attorney representing Christman, didn't return a phone call from The Associated Press.
The bodies were found by firefighters who responded to a blaze at the apartment. Authorities said the bodies and the apartment weren't significantly damaged in the fire.
Neighbors told investigators they heard screaming coming from the apartment. Police say one victim was fatally stabbed, another was shot to death and another was both shot and stabbed.
Authorities say the victims likely fought back during the violent attacks and that Christman had cuts on his hands when he was arrested. Prosecutors say blood found in the apartment was matched with Christman's DNA.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
6 minutes ago
- CBS News
New details in Barry Morphew case unveiled thanks to autopsy of his wife Suzanne Morphew in Colorado
Now that Barry Morphew is behind bars again and accused for a second time in the murder of his wife Suzanne Morphew, investigators in Colorado have given some insight into the additional clues and evidence at their disposal should he stand trial. File photo of Barry and Suzanne Morphew CBS In this month's new multi-page indictment, investigators were able to detail how they arrived at first-degree murder charges. It starts with the baseline facts of the case that have been public since Morphew's first arrest, and moves on to what investigators consider to be inconsistencies with his statements surrounding the date Suzanne disappeared (Mother's Day, 2020) and where Morphew actually was. Investigators said Morphew claimed to be at a job site in Broomfield, but that one of his employees said they were supposed to travel together to Broomfield and Morphew took off without them without telling them. The report goes on to detail multiple instances of video capturing Barry Morphew throwing away things in Broomfield into separate trash cans, and locates him at a hotel in Broomfield when he got the call that Suzanne was missing, not at the job site like he said, according to the report. File photo of Barry Morphew leaving the Chaffee County Courthouse CBS Along with describing their marriage as "the best," Barry Morphew did not tell investigators that Suzanne Morphew had recently been talking about divorce, was having a secret affair, and had even texted him "I'm done. I could care less what you're up to and have been for years. We just need to figure this out civilly." The report also shows that Morphew and Suzanne were alone at their home during the time of her disappearance. It outlines times the pair's cellphones were connected to cell towers, and times that they were turned off, in relation to times investigators believe their location is important to the case. Finally, since an autopsy was possible now that Suzanne's remains were found, the report shows that the El Paso County Coroner was able to provide investigators with evidence that BAM (Butorphanol, Azaperone, and Medetomidine), which are commonly combined to create a tranquilizer used on wildlife, had a positive match to Suzanne's bones. Investigators found a tranquilizer rifle and Pneu-Dart brand tranquilizer darts in a gun safe in the Morphew home. Investigators were able to find a needle cap consistent with the darts after pulling apart the dryer in the home, along with the shorts Morphew was wearing the day before Suzanne's disappearance. Thanks to the autopsy and toxicologists, investigators now know Suzanne was not killed right after BAM entered her system, as her body was able to start metabolizing the drugs. The remains also gave clues that the body had been moved to the location it was found at, the shallow grave in Saguache County, because of the lack of bug or animal activity (inferring that the body had decayed somewhere else, and then eventually was moved to the grave.) A pharmacology expert referenced in the report said BAM is a mixture used to sedate animals, administered by injection, taking several minutes to take effect, and can render a recipient immobile and vulnerable. BAM is not FDA-approved for human use, and therefore no human studies exist, but Morphew, as a former deer farmer in Indiana, had already admitted to using BAM in Colorado (reportedly to shoot at deer near their property). Since a prescription is needed to have the drug in Colorado, records show Morphew was able to stock up on the drug in 2018 before moving to Colorado. The report ends stating that Morphew was the only private citizen in the entire area of the state with access to BAM.
Yahoo
21 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Padres star Tatis sues Big League Advance in attempt to get out of future earnings deal
San Diego Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr. hits a home run in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Saturday, June 21, 2025, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Tony Ding) SAN DIEGO (AP) — San Diego Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr. filed a lawsuit Monday against Big League Advance in an attempt to void the future earnings contract he signed as a 17-year-old minor leaguer that could cost him $34 million. The lawsuit, filed in San Diego County Superior Court, accuses BLA of using predatory tactics to lure him into an 'investment deal' that was actually an illegal loan. BLA misrepresented itself to Tatis, hiding its unlicensed status and pushing him into loan terms banned by California's consumer protection laws, the suit alleges. Advertisement Attorney Robert Hertzberg said the suit also seeks public injunctive relief to protect young athletes from being lured into such deals. Hertzberg said Tatis received $2 million up front in exchange for 10% of future earnings. Tatis signed a $340 million, 14-year contract in February 2021. Hertzberg said Tatis would also be on the hook for future earnings from any subsequent contract he might sign, unless the deal is voided. 'I'm fighting this battle not just for myself but for everyone still chasing their dream and hoping to provide a better life for their family," Tatis said in a statement provided by a publicist. "I want to help protect those young players who don't yet know how to protect themselves from these predatory lenders and illegal financial schemes — kids' focus should be on their passion for baseball, not dodging shady business deals.' Tatis, a son of the former big league infielder, declined further comment before Monday night's game against the Washington Nationals. Advertisement Hertzberg said that even though Tatis signed the deal in his native Dominican Republic, he is covered by California consumer protection laws. BLA declined comment. "California lawmakers have put in place serious, straightforward protections against predatory financial activity, but BLA has still disregarded our laws to pursue a business model built on prohibited, deceptive and abusive practices,' said Hertzberg, a former speaker of the California State Assembly and majority leader of the California Senate. Tatis has blossomed into one of the game's biggest stars, although he's been dogged by injuries and an 80-game PED suspension handed down by MLB in 2022. He debuted in 2019 and was an All-Star at shortstop in 2021 before being moved to right field, where he was an All-Star last year. ___ AP MLB:
CBS News
21 minutes ago
- CBS News
Woman charged with driving car through crowd during anti-ICE protest this month
A woman stood charged Monday with driving a car through a crowd assembled for a protest against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in downtown Chicago earlier this month. Chicago police said Deirdre Kemp, 30, was arrested on Thursday, June 19. She was charged with one felony count each of aggravated reckless driving causing bodily harm and aggravated fleeing causing bodily injury, and one misdemeanor count of driving on a suspended license. Kemp as also cited with driving an uninsured vehicle and failing to obey police officers. Around 6:19 p.m. Tuesday, June 10, a maroon sedan was seen barreling down the street as the protesters marched at Monroe Street and Wabash Avenue. CBS News Chicago's cameras caught the driver — a woman in a yellow tank top — among the protesters just minutes before. She had a can of spray paint in her hand as she faced police. CBS News Chicago's Sabrina Franza was reporting live from the scene less than two minutes later when the screaming started. There was a sudden rush to help anyone who may have been injured. Protesters had to jump out of the way, and some tried to get the driver to stop, while others helped one woman, Heather Blair, who said she was hit by the car. CBS Skywatch followed the maroon car for more than six minutes as the driver left the scene. She drove into oncoming traffic and made turns in front of other cars. The driver first proceeded east on Monroe Street to Michigan Avenue, and drove past an unsuspecting Divvy bike. A witness, protester Dr. Howard Ehrman, said the car sped up as the driver fled. "They continued to accelerate. It started off at State Street about 30 miles an hour," Ehrman said. "By the time it got to Michigan [Avenue], it was going 50 miles an hour." The driver of the maroon car stopped only after her vehicle broke down on State Street in the South Loop. She got out, and then got right back behind the wheel. Chicago police referred further questions about the charges against Kemp to the Cook County State's Attorney's office. and contributed to this report.
