14-year-old girl's brilliant trick on alleged pedophile leads to in-person meeting — but not with her. Now he's behind bars.



Arizona police commended a teen girl for her quick wits that helped land a potential sexual predator behind bars.

The 14-year-old girl was walking home from school on Oct. 16 when 37-year-old Isaiah Navarro approached her, according to a statement from the Glendale Police Department.

'Navarro arrived at the location but instead of the 14-year-old young lady, Navarro met up with some handcuffs and was placed under arrest.'

Police obtained Ring security video that shows the teen walking across the street in a residential neighborhood when Navarro was inside his car and started a conversation with the girl.

The teen told police Navarro asked her where the closest McDonald's was located. She gave him an answer.

Then, the man allegedly asked for the girl's phone number. The quick-thinking teen wisely provided her mother's cell phone number instead of her own.

Once the teen told her mother what had happened, the mom got law enforcement involved.

Navarro allegedly began texting the number — not knowing he was talking to detectives and not the 14-year-old girl.

Glendale detectives posed as the underage girl and allegedly communicated with the suspect through text messages from the mother's cell phone.

The police shared alleged screenshots of the text message conversation.

When asked how old he was, Navarro reportedly said he was 37 years old.

He then allegedly asked, "Is that OK?"

Detectives responded: "I'm a minor."

Police purportedly wrote to the man, "My mom will get so mad so will my dad. I'm only 14."

Navarro reportedly replied, "Maybe one day. Can you keep our convo between me and you?"

Navarro allegedly requested photos of the 14-year-old girl.

"The conversation became more and more graphic with Navarro describing and asking for specific sex acts, without any regard for the age of the victim," police said.

Police added that Navarro "invited the victim to perform sexual acts with him."

Navarro repeatedly asked to meet up with the girl and reportedly called the number up to 30 times.

Detectives set up a place and a time to meet, and Navarro allegedly went there a few hours later.

"Navarro arrived at the location but instead of the 14-year-old young lady, Navarro met up with some handcuffs and was placed under arrest," the police said.

Navarro was arrested on the spot. The accused pedophile was booked into the Maricopa County Jail and is facing charges of luring a minor for sexual exploitation and attempting to commit sexual conduct with a minor.

He's being held on a $250,000 bond.

"Here is a prime example of a young lady who thought quickly on her feet and did the right thing," police said. "We at the Glendale Police Department commend this young lady for her bravery and her smart thinking!"

Police are urging anyone who's had a similar encounter with the suspect to contact detectives at 623-930-3000.

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'When he snaps, he snaps': New details emerge of teen who allegedly fatally beat 16-year-old, he reportedly bragged, 'I'm just too strong'



New details have surfaced in the investigation of an Arizona teen who was one of several teenagers who reportedly beat a 16-year-old to death at a Halloween party last year. The ex-girlfriend of the boy's father and social media messages reportedly revealed the seemingly conscienceless killing of a teen.

Talan Renner, 17, faces charges of first-degree murder and kidnapping in the October attack on 16-year-old Preston Lord. Renner is one of seven young men – known as the "Gilbert Goons – charged in the brutal beating death of Lord.

On Oct. 28, Lord was viciously attacked at a Halloween party. The teen was found critically injured outside Phoenix, Arizona. Lord died from his extensive injuries at a hospital on Oct. 30.

Renner allegedly bragged about the deadly beatdown of a 16-year-old. The Arizona high school football player is also accused of being hidden away by his family following the fatal attack on Lord.

Investigators claim that days after the fatal beating, Renner's father whisked the teen suspect to the family's $850,000 cabin in Show Low — three hours away from his home.

The ex-girlfriend of the suspect's father, Travis Renner, told law enforcement that the alleged attacker's jaw was swollen days after the beating.

Arizona Family reported, "The woman described Talan as an 'angry kid' and a 'fighter.' She said he 'holds in a lot of aggression,' and 'when he snaps, he snaps.'"

She allegedly added that Talan is muscular and "full of rage."

The ex-girlfriend noted that Talan can be "misunderstood."

However, Talan allegedly sent incriminating text messages to a friend.

“I got in a fight, a big group fight, and I accidentally killed a kid. I guess I’m just too strong," Renner allegedly wrote in a Snapchat message, according to police.

The teen repeatedly said his alleged victim would need a "closed casket" funeral because of how brutally he beat him.

Another suspect in the fatal beating, 17-year-old Talyn Vigil, allegedly admitted to killing Lord.

Vigil reportedly wrote to a friend on Snapchat, "I hit a kid and this kid hit his head. And then they kicked his head in the ground and then I got word he died so idk."

Renner – along with the other six accused attackers – were held on a $1 million bond. They all have pleaded not guilty in the killing of Lord.

The seven alleged suspects have reportedly referred to themselves as the "Gilbert Goons."

The suspects are Renner, Vigil, Jacob Meisner, William Owen Hines, Taylor Sherman, and Dominic Turner.

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Suspect in Preston Lord death tried to conceal injuries police say www.youtube.com

Chilling video shows woman trying to escape captor at Arizona gas station only to get brutalized; police asking for your help



Horrifying video shows the moment that a woman appears to attempt to escape her captive at a gas station in Arizona. Unfortunately, the man brutally reigns her in and seemingly forces her back into the automobile. Police are asking the public for help in identifying the kidnapping suspect and victim.

Around 10 p.m. on Feb. 23, chilling surveillance camera footage shows an SUV pull up to a Circle K gas station near Interstate 10 and Watson Road in Buckeye, Arizona.

A man exits the vehicle to refuel the vehicle. Suddenly, a woman in the passenger's seat exits the car and makes a run for it. The male driver chases after her and brutally grabs her by the neck to bring her back to the vehicle.

The vehicle is seen taking off at a high speed without getting gas.

KSAZ-TV reported, "After the incident, police say the vehicle fled from the gas station on Watson heading toward I-10. Police believe the vehicle involved is a gray Nissan Rogue that was made between 2021 and 2023."

Police are considering the incident to be an apparent assault and abduction.

"That video is extremely concerning to us, and we understand that that video would be concerning to the viewers that are watching it, so that's why we were here today, asking for information from the public to help us identify these two subjects, to help identify them and see if this woman is OK," said Sgt. Tamela Skaggs with the Buckeye Police Department.

Skaggs added, "We know nothing about these two subjects – if they know each other, if they're in a relationship together - we don't know anything about them. The timing in this investigation is extremely crucial. Watching that video, we are concerned for that female. They’re too many unknowns in this investigation. That video right now is all that we have."

Police are urging anyone with information about the case to contact them 623-349-6411.

VIDEO: Apparent abduction caught on surveillance at Buckeye gas station www.youtube.com

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Video: Bone-chilling moment Arizona man, with 'history of violence,' appears to try to kidnap 5th-grade girl walking to school



Video captured the shocking moment that an Arizona man – who allegedly has a "history of violence" – appeared to try to kidnap a 5th-grade girl in broad daylight as she was walking to school.

On Friday morning, a 5th-grade student was walking to Sunset Elementary School in Glendale, Arizona.

A local resident's security camera caught a silver sedan making a quick turn in the middle of the road and pulled over near where the girl was walking on the sidewalk. The video shows the driver park, exit the vehicle, and chase after the young girl.

Thankfully, the 5th-grader was able to outrun the suspected kidnapper.

The man calmly walked back to his vehicle.

After the girl was able to escape the suspected kidnapping, three fellow students huddled around her to provide comfort, according to neighbors.

"They hid her because the man was chasing her," Amcy Borquez told Arizona's Family.

"I think they were very brave for their age," Borquez added. "I’m telling them all day, like you’re heroes."

After reviewing the security camera video, police arrested 37-year-old Joseph Ruiz hours after the alleged kidnapping.

Ruiz was charged with kidnapping and custodial interference felony charges.

Ruiz reportedly has a "history of violence," according to authorities.

"I would note that he has a history of violence. He was convicted of an aggravated assault, a class 3 dangerous felony, after having stabbed his mother in the neck," said the state's attorney in Ruiz’s court appearance.

Nayelia Martinez – a neighbor living near the alleged abduction who has a son attending the same school as the victim – exclaimed, "Oh my god. It gave me goosebumps."

Sunset Elementary School sent a letter to parents discussing the alleged kidnapping, and said the victim noticed the suspect follow her from the time she left her apartment.

Data from 2019 shows that Arizona has the second-most missing people per 100,000 citizens, according to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System – a national centralized repository and resource center for missing, unidentified, and unclaimed person cases across the United States. Only Alaska had a higher rate of missing people.

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Hospital security guard accused of having sex with corpse of 79-year-old woman in morgue freezer



A now-fired security guard was arrested for allegedly having sex with the corpse of a 79-year-old woman at the morgue of a hospital in Arizona.

Randall Bird, 46, was charged with five counts of crimes against a dead person, according to the Phoenix Police Department. Bird's bond was set at $10,000.

Bird had been a security guard at the Banner University Medical Center in Phoenix. His job responsibilities included transporting dead bodies to the morgue and placing them inside a freezer.

The corpse of the 79-year-old woman who had died of natural causes arrived at the morgue on Oct. 22. The same day, two witnesses reportedly claimed to have arrived at the morgue, where the doors were locked from the inside — an unusual occurrence. According to court documents, witnesses saw a light on inside the morgue's freezer, and the door was cracked.

WMTV reported, "The two witnesses reportedly saw Bird inside the freezer, where he was 'sweating profusely' and 'acting very nervous.'"

The body bag for the elderly woman's corpse was unzipped and she was face down with Bird's belt on top of the gurney where the body was, court docs said.

Security guards said as they walked into the morgue, Bird allegedly attempted to cover the victim's body.

Bird said he allegedly had a medical episode and fainted. He reportedly grabbed the body bag as he fell.

Bird reportedly told the witnesses that the body bag had torn open, and the zipper broke. However, witnesses noticed that the bag and the zipper were not broken.

The pair reported Bird to their supervisor.

Officers with the Phoenix Police Department were dispatched to the Banner University Medical Center on Oct. 24.

When detectives interviewed Bird, he told them that he experienced a medical emergency at the morgue, fainted, and couldn't remember anything from the incident.

Investigators determined that the woman's dead body showed signs of trauma. Police also noted that the corpse had Bird's DNA on it – which made him a necrophilia suspect.

Officials at Banner Health confirmed that Bird no longer works at the hospital.

"We are saddened and appalled by the alleged actions of an individual at Banner University Medical Center Phoenix that resulted in his arrest on November 28, 2023," Banner Health said in a statement.

"Banner initiated an internal investigation, filed a report with law enforcement, and terminated the employee," the hospital said.

"Banner Health has and remains committed to high standards that require each of our team members to treat everyone, at every stage of life, with compassion, dignity, and respect," Banner Health added. "We are grateful for the work of the Phoenix Police Department in the investigation and handling of this matter, and we will continue to cooperate with law enforcement."

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Video: Arizona thief thought he pulled off jewelry heist until plucky patrons pin perp to the pavement



An Arizona thief thought he had pulled off a jewelry heist, but a group of vigilant bystanders thwarted the robbery and pinned the robber to the ground until police arrived to arrest the perp.

Around 11:40 a.m. on Friday, a man dressed in a suit walked into the Marina Jewelers store in Scottsdale. The man allegedly snatched a tray of high-dollar jewelry from the jewelry store, and then attempted to flee the crime scene.

However, two plucky patrons thwarted the thief's jewelry heist.

The Scottsdale Police Department identified the suspect as 53-year-old Troy Bell.

"On his way out the door, he encountered two brave men who were entering the jewelers and tried to stop him,” police said Saturday in a press release, according to the Daily Independent. "The three reportedly got into a fight which ultimately resulted in Bell being detained by the two men, and some other helpers."

An onlooker captured video of the heroic bystanders chasing and eventually pinning the alleged robber to the ground. Within minutes, police arrived and arrested the alleged thief.

Bell was arrested and charged with shoplifting, assault, and failure to provide a truthful name.

— (@)

Bell reportedly dropped and damaged some of the jewelry. All of the jewelry, which is said to be worth thousands of dollars, was recovered.

One of the brave men who thwarted the robbery, only identified as "Mark," was entering the jewelry store with his wife when the robbery happened.

Mark told KSAZ-TV, "We were here for her birthday, and we were here at the shop shopping, and the gentleman ran out with a whole tray of jewelry, and we tackled him and waited for the police to show up. Screaming ‘just catch him! He just robbed the jewelry store!’ So we just grabbed him, held him down, and the police were here within three to four minutes."

"First day after our two-month vacation – and we had everything in the safe – and today was the day we had everything laid on the table. Look at the chances," said Serg Karageuzian – co-owner of Marina Jewelry. "We were replacing the stuff, and everything was on the showcases."

Marina Jewelry co-owner Anna Marina Solakian said of the heroic customers, "They saved my product, saved the neighborhood, and I want to thank everybody that sacrificed themselves to help a neighbor or stranger that they didn’t know."

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Arizona woman killed while hiking, police release ominous video of possible suspect, heartbroken family pleads for public's help to find killer: 'She was my little girl'



An Arizona woman was attacked and killed while hiking, according to police.

Police responded to a call on April 29 about an injured person in the desert area in north Phoenix. Members of the local fire department found the body of 29-year-old Lauren Heike.

The Phoenix Police Department said in a statement, "Heike was found to have trauma to her body."

Investigators believe Heike was hiking on a trail behind the Paradise Ridge neighborhood when she was "viciously" attacked. Police said Heike was in a location where she "wasn't easily viewable by those who utilize the trail."

Phoenix homicide Lt. James Hester said during a press conference that Heike died April 28, and he believes she was "attacked from behind and died as a result of her injuries." Police did not reveal how Heike was killed or if any weapons were used in the deadly attack.

The Phoenix Police Department released an ominous, grainy video of a man running along the same hiking trail where Heike's body was found. Police said the man in the video is a person of interest in the murder of Lauren Heike.

Police are looking for a male standing between 5'8" and 6', and he was wearing dark clothing and a backpack.

\u201cNEW INFO ON HOMICIDE investigation. Police are hoping someone can help them identify the person in this short video who may have info on a homicide case from 6500 E Libby Street. Anyone with info call police or @SilentwitnessAZ \nOriginal media advisory:\nhttps://t.co/8ITIbfihky\u201d
— Phoenix Police (@Phoenix Police) 1683081589

"The behavior, in my opinion, was so heinous that I would imagine that the subject would be displaying behavior symptoms that just would look out of place," Hester stated.

Heike's heartbroken family are pleading for help from the public to find Lauren's killer.

Family member Ron Ohnhaus said during Wednesday's news conference at the headquarters of the Phoenix Police Department, "What would you do if this was your little sister, if this was your daughter, if this was your niece? We just ask and plead that you would find it in your heart to make that call and tell us or the authorities what you know."

River Hubbel, a close friend of Lauren, recalled how they had a daily exercise of telling each other what they were grateful for each morning.

"I had asked what we were all thankful for that day and she had specifically just said that she was so thankful to just wake up another day so positive and to be able to go get a coffee and go on a walk," Hubbel said while trying to hold back tears.

Lana Heike, Lauren's mother, said, "She loved to exercise. She was walking and we know she was happy she went out that morning on a beautiful day, to do what she does every day."

Lauren's grieving father Jeff said while crying, "She was my little girl. I'm going to miss her terribly. I just hope they can find whoever did this to her."

Anyone with information regarding Heike's murder is urged to contact the Phoenix Police Department at 602-262-6151 or Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS or 480-TESTIGO for Spanish.

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Family of woman killed in north Phoenix ask public to help find suspect www.youtube.com