Finally Some Relief For Chandler

Finally, the community of Chandler, Arizona can rest a little easier knowing that a violent sexual predator allegedly responsible for the sexual assaults of 5 girls between 12 and 14 years old has been arrested. He is believed to be the elusive "Chandler Serial Rapist".

A press conference that took place about 2 1/2 hours ago with the Chandler Police Department confirmed that they arrested 39 year old Santana Batiz Aceves in the attacks. Aceves, an illegal immigrant from Mexico, had similar clothing in his vehicle that matched descriptions by victims. Also, DNA swabs matched evidence taken from the attacks. Aceves was living under the alias "Ricardo Ramirez Lopez".

Aceves, an illegal immigrant, was working as a heavy equipment operator, and living in the same area as an attempted attack on November 8, 2007. He has a wife, a son, and a daughter. I'm unaware at this time of their legal status. Surely, Aceves' legal status adds more fuel to the fire regarding the hot-button issue of immigration.

No matter what Aceves' legal status is, this case is about one thing only: The victims. The young girls who have been violated in their own homes. The focus should be on what this creep allegedly did, and on justice for the victims. While I can certainly agree that his legal status is an important element in the case, it usually ends up overshadowing the issue of the major aspect of the crime, and the victims.

I can only imagine the relief of this community that this creep has finally been caught and is off the streets. Tonight, they will rest a little bit easier.

Source(s): eastvalleytribune.com; azcentral.com; azfamily.com

Additional Information: [azfamily.com] Press Conference Video; Chandler PD press release [pdf]

A Birthday In Heaven

Five years ago today, Ariana Socorro "NaNa" Payne was born. For those who have been following Ariana's case, you know that Ariana is not with us in the physical sense to celebrate. If you haven't been following the case, you can find several past posts about both Ariana and her older brother, Tyler here.

I would like to take this opportunity to ask everyone to take a moment of silence in honor of Ariana, Tyler, and every other child that has lost their lives- whether it's from abuse, accident, or disease. Thank you.

I can imagine that Ariana is in heaven, coloring and watching Scooby Doo movies with Tyler! God Bless You, and Happy Birthday, little angel!

Little Girl Dies From Gunshot Wound (**Updated**)

At 5:00 a.m. this morning, most children in the surrounding area of Southwest Tucson would still be sleeping. Still in dreamland for a couple more hours before the morning rush of breakfast, washing up, brushing teeth, getting backpacks ready.

For one little girl and her family, it didn't quite go that way. Instead, the 6-year-old little girl was rushed to University Medical Center with a gunshot wound. Here's a snip from the Tucson Citizen:

Sheriff investigators have determined shots were fired outside the home, in which there were two adults ad three children.

The girl was sleeping on the couch and apparently was hit by a bullet that went through the home's front door.

She was alive when sheriff deputies arrived around 5 a.m. and airlifted to a local hospital, Ogden said.

She was taken to University Medical Center, said Tracy Koslowski of the Drexel Heights Fire District.

No more information has been released at this time, but this is very close to my neighborhood so needless to say I will be following closely. The complete article can be found here.

I really hope they find these sub-human creatures that did this to an innocent little girl who should have been going to school this morning with the rest of her peers. I am just disgusted and heartbroken for this little girl's family.

**UPDATE**- 10:45 a.m.

According to the updated article in the online version of the Arizona Daily Star the little girl's name is Analissa Monares-Leon, 6. Police are still looking for potential suspects in this case.

Update: "Creep" Pleads Not Guilty

Remember Robert Ashley? . He's the former substitute teacher, AKA "Four Corners Creep", that allegedly likes to film little girls, "under the skirt".

Well, there's an update. Robert Ashley, who apparently admitted to police that he is a pedophile, likes little girls 8-9 years old, can't relate to women, and has a "foot fetish", pleaded not guilty to charges of voyeurism and child abuse Friday, October 5th according to this article on KOAT .

There is an accompanying video next to the article.

In this related article, at the same site, a APS dispatcher was fired for giving the principal of the school where Ashley was working, some really bad advice. Here's a snippet from the article.

When the principal watched the tape, deputies said it contained video shot up a young girl's skirt.
The principal called APS dispatch to report the finding . The dispatcher said Ashley's rights had been violated and that the bag must be returned to him.

(Begin sarcastic rant):

Of course, we wouldn't want to violate the rights of a sick cretin that likes to film under little girl's skirts. After all, he's an adult, so obviously his rights are more important. And shouldn't he be able to have his video camera, his weapon of choice, if you will, so that he can continue to film up innocent children's skirts, or as Ashley would have us believe--their feet?

(End sarcastic rant)

Really, I don't care if he is filming little girl's feet, their ears, their shins--whatever. It's all the same to me. He allegedly admits he is sexually stimulated by filming their feet. It's disgusting. Anyone that would hear about what the principal viewed, and give advice like this really should have their head examined, and in my opinion--deserves to be fired.

The Killing Of Mia Henderson--Part Two

NOTE TO READERS: This blog entry was orignally started on Saturday, 9/8, but due to other circumstances, I was unable to finish it and post it until today- Monday, 9/10. My apologies for the delay in posting.


By now, most people know what led up to the murder of Mia Henderson, an eighteen year old freshman at the University of Arizona. Her roommate, Galareka Harrison, also eighteen and a freshman at UA, is being held at the Pima County Jail with a $50,000 bond.

It wasn't long after they became roommates at the Graham-Greenlee dorm that Mia Henderson suspected Galareka Harrison was stealing from her. Her Social Security card, her CatCard, missing money--all led to Mia filing a theft complaint with the UAPD.

It's about as bizarre as it can get, the actual crime itself. The Arizona Daily Star posted the probable cause statements on 2 pages: Page 1 and Page 2. There are also several articles on this case.

Before the Myspace account of Mia Henderson was switched to private, it was clear that there were many people that cared deeply about her. Her friends left messages about how much they loved her, were going to miss her, and their disbelief about what happened to her. Some had somewhat jokingly hoped there was a 'Myspace in heaven'. Not surprisingly, Galareka Harrison has a few supporters on her Myspace.

Two young, intelligent women have lost their future. They both had a bright future ahead of them, but one had it taken away brutally. The other took that and her own future. It was all about money and possessions. A sad tragedy for both girls that could have been avoided.

Remembering Ariana and Tyler Payne - Part Two

For those that have been following my blog entries about the Ariana and Tyler Payne case, I would like to take the time to give you links to their online obituaries so that you can express your condolences, if you wish. As stated in my previous entry on this case, the memorial service will take place this Saturday, August 25th.



Ariana Payne



Ariana's Obituary



Tyler PayneTyler's Obituary

Taxi Ride To The Sky

A few months back, I blogged about a couple who took a taxi ride from New York to Arizona. The retired couple wanted to spare their pets from the trauma of an airplane ride. If you don't recall the entry, it was titled "Hack Job" . Sadly, Betty Matas has passed away in Sedona, Arizona. She was 71. My deepest condolences to her husband, Bob Matas. A sad ending to a heartwarming story.

Chandler Serial Rapist: Under Pressure

NOTE: To see previous posts on this topic, please click here .


Recently, the Chandler Police Department confirmed that three of the five known victims of the "Chandler Serial Rapist", are positively linked by physical evidence. The latest attack in June and the two previous attacks in January of this year are the ones that are confirmed to be linked. Their determination in solving this crime

Justice For Ariana and Tyler Payne?

Ariana and Tyler Payne (photo courtesy of Jamie Hallam)






Note from the blog author: This is my 50th blog entry to date. To commemorate the occasion, I am writing this entry about a case that I am very passionate about and is very close to my heart.



On January 20, 2006, Jamie Hallam sent her children, Ariana and Tyler to visit with their father, Christopher Payne. Although they had

A Recommendation

Since the disappearance and death of Amber Hess, I have been seeing a significant traffic increase to my blog. While all my readers are welcomed and appreciated, I just want to direct attention to another site.

I have noticed a few comments directed to the Hess family, with readers sending condolences. Of course, the comments are very nice and heartfelt (and welcomed). However, I cannot be

Three Weeks Ago: Chandler Serial Rapist

NOTE: If you are interested in reading my first entry regarding the Chandler Serial Rapist, please click here.


Three weeks ago on a warm June evening in Chandler, Arizona, a man simply known as Jim and his wife sat on their front porch while their fourteen year old granddaughter was seemingly safe in their mobile home. Jim had no idea of the terror going on in his home or that his

Updates

I have several updates on several different cases that I have been blogging about.

The Ariana and Tyler Payne Case

The autopsy report regarding the death of Ariana Payne showed injuries that happened before her death. A broken shoulder, several broken ribs, and a fractured vertebrae. More details about how Christopher Payne gained access to the storage locker where Ariana's body was found and

11 Days

When Reina Gonzales, alleged child abuser in connection with the Ariana and Tyler Payne case, was released from jail on April 20th, she had to meet several conditions or face going back to jail. One of those conditions was that she had to meet with a Pretrial Services officer every Friday. Gonzales' attorney argued that she was not a flight risk and had long standing ties to the Tucson area. So,

Cynthia Tureman-Not Your Typical Baby Abandonment Case?

When I think of cases where young women dump their newborn babies, I think of a young teenage girl who thought she was in love, had sex, and caught up in the moment-became pregnant. Suddenly, the one she thought loved her wants nothing to do with her; he doesn't even think the kid is his. Scared, alone, unable to tell her parents because of fear-she does the unthinkable-she delivers the child and

More Questions Than Answers

Whenever I read or hear about crimes against children by the hands of their parents, the questions immediately start flooding in. Particularly, when it's the mother accused of the crime. I ask myself, "How could someone carry around a child for nine months, experiencing the wonders of pregnancy, preparing for the arrival--how could they do such a thing?"

I still don't know the answer, and I

A New Search

The Tucson Police Department is once again searching the Los Reales Landfill for the remains of five-year-old Tyler Payne. The new search is based on a tip they received that he was put in a dumpster at the U-Store-It storage facility, where his sister Ariana Payne was found decomposing in a plastic tub in one of the units.

I am praying that they are able to find Tyler so that his family can

The Payne(ful) truth

Sometimes what you hope for and what you really feel with your heart treads a very thin line. The case of Ariana and Tyler Payne, is a perfect example. I've said before that as much as I hope Tyler Payne is found alive and safe, I know deep down it's very unlikely. Apparently, a Pima County grand jury felt the same. Christopher Payne was indicted yesterday by the grand jury on 2 counts of first

Reina Terror

REINA GONZALES












Meet Reina Gonzales. Reina was arrested in connection with the death of Ariana Payne, daughter of Christopher Payne, the sludge that allegedly killed her and put her in a tub, then locked her dead body in a storage locker. Reina is the girlfriend of Christopher Payne and also shares a son with him. It seems Reina was in a position to get help for Ariana and did nothing.

Little girl Identified; Brother still missing

It has been a tumultuous two weeks thinking about the case of the little girl found in the storage locker here in Tucson. Although there are still many unanswered questions in this case, one thing is almost clear. The child, the precious little girl found dead in that locker-was Christopher Payne's daughter, 4 year-old Ariana Payne. I say "almost clear" because they are still awaiting positive

Updating: "Skeletons in your storage unit."

Christopher Matthew Payne




This is an update to my previous blog entitled "Skeletons in your storage unit." An arrest has been made in this case.

"Tucson police arrested Christopher Matthew Payne,
28, in connection with the case and booked him into Pima County jail on one count of first-degree murder and one count of child abuse."

There is still very little information being released