State Glance
Tucson police: Dead body of woman is found in mid-town wash
TUCSON — Police in Tucson are investigating the discovery of a dead body in a mid-town wash.
They say officers responded to the scene around 6 a.m. Wednesday.
Police say the woman’s body showed no obvious signs of trauma, which leads detectives to believe that foul play wasn’t involved.
They say the woman appears to be in her 30s. Her identity isn’t known yet.
Arizona woman found guilty in 6-year-old nephew’s death
FLAGSTAFF — A jury has found an Arizona woman guilty in the death of her 6-year-old nephew.
The Arizona Daily Sun reports 39-year-old Lillian Hester was one of the four people who cared for the boy and were charged in his 2015 death.
On Tuesday, a jury found the Ash Fork woman guilty of first-degree murder and child abuse.
Coconino medical examiners say Jason Hester was seriously underweight and showed signs of dehydration, but found no significant internal injuries that could have contributed to his death.
Phoenix police investigating death of man who was in custody
PHOENIX — Police in Phoenix say they are investigating the death of a man who had been arrested.
They say 35-year-old Ira Howard was pronounced dead at a hospital Wednesday afternoon.
Police say no force was used on the part of officers and the cause of death will be determined by the Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Police say officers responded to a domestic violence call at an apartment in west Phoenix around noon Wednesday.
They developed probable cause to arrest Howard for criminal damage.
Officers transported him to a police precinct and while in custody, police say Howard exhibited signs of medical distress and he was transported to a hospital.
Arizona grand jury indicts an ex-nurse for insurance fraud
PHOENIX — Arizona prosecutors say a state grand jury has indicted a former psychiatric nurse practitioner for treating patients while unlicensed and defrauding multiple insurance companies.
The Arizona Attorney General’s Office is prosecuting the case against Laura Lynn Bell, who is facing 12 felony charges including forgery, fraudulent schemes and artifices, theft, money laundering and trafficking in the identity of another.
Bell’s license was revoked by the Arizona State Board of Nursing in November 2017.
She’s accused of using stolen identities of nurse practitioners and former patients to bill insurance companies for services that weren’t rendered.
Bell also is accused of fraudulently receiving more than $190,000 from various insurance companies and treating three patients who are veterans without a license.