A couple have been arrested in connection with a burned body found dumped in the desert in West Valley, reports azfamily.com.
The husband-and-wife duo, Daniel Griffith and Jennifer Griffith, are accused of killing the unknown victim, burning the body and dumping it in the desert near the White Tank Mountain Regional Park. Police claim the homicide was not a random crime, but would not say what the suspects’ relationship was with the victim.
Glendale police did release some information about the crime scene, however: "The body was dumped, so there was no car or anything like that, and it was dumped in the desert and there was some covering over the body," Officer Tracey Breeden told azfamily.com.
Officers were first tipped off to the possibility of homicide occurring in a Glendale home by Phoenix police detectives who were investigating a missing person's case.
Daniel has been charged with one count of first-degree murder and one count of abandonment/concealment of body parts. His wife, Jennifer, has been charged with one count of abandonment/concealment of body parts and one count of tampering with evidence.
If convicted of first-degree murder, Daniel Griffith could face some of the harshest punishment given in Arizona. First-degree murder is one of the most serious crimes a person can be charged with. The crime is a class 1 felony under Arizona law, and penalties can include life imprisonment or even the death penalty if certain aggravating circumstances are present. Given the state of the victim's body, he could very well face capital punishment.
If you have questions about murder charges or capital punishment laws in the state of Arizona, consider consulting the expertise of an experienced Phoenix criminal defense attorney. For more information on first-degree murder, see our Related Resources section.
Related Resources:
- Find a Phoenix Criminal Defense Attorney (FindLaw)
- Glendale PD Arrest 2 in Case of Burned Body (Associated Press)
- First-degree Murder (FindLaw)
- Paradise Valley Murders: 5 Arrested, One Just Weeks Out of Jail (Phoenix Criminal Law News)
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