State Glance
Police: Mother says she killed 3 kids found in Phoenix home
PHOENIX — A Phoenix woman has been arrested on suspicion of killing her three children, who were found dead inside the family’s home after firefighters got a call about a drowning, authorities said Tuesday.
The 22-year-old mother, Rachel Henry, “has admitted to harming her three children,” which led to their deaths, police Sgt. Mercedes Fortune told reporters outside the home on a block with several weathered wooden houses and an old mobile home in a once rural area of southern Phoenix.
A relative who lives at the house called police late Monday, and officers found a 7-month-old girl, 2-yearold girl and 3-year-old boy in a living room with no obvious trauma.
The Phoenix Fire Department also received a call from the home reporting a drowning involving three children, Capt. Rob McDade said.
Relatives initially believed illness may have been a factor, but Fortune said police “are comfortable in saying now that the mother is responsible for the death of the children.”
Officers administered CPR and fire officials provided first aid, but the children were pronounced dead.
Henry was booked on three counts of first-degree murder, police said.
Arizona inmate’s release held up by molestation allegation
PHOENIX — An Arizona inmate whose life sentence for a murder conviction was commuted nearly two months ago by Gov. Doug Ducey remains incarcerated as authorities examine an allegation that he molested a girl during a 1989 prison visit.
The Arizona Capitol Times reports the molestation allegation against Doyle Williams was raised in late December by the girl’s mother.
The Arizona Board of Executive Clemency said it was not previously aware of the allegation because there was no record of them after the prison investigated and found no evidence of wrongdoing. The Capitol Times obtained the documents through a public records request.
The board was expected to present its findings at a meeting Tuesday but is instead delaying until it and the Justice Project has presented the findings of its investigation.
The board unanimously recommended that Ducey commute Williams’ sentence in July, citing his support system, desire to serve his community and near-spotless prison record.
Williams, who has been in prison for 50 years, has maintained his innocence since he was arrested.
Tempe police say two died in murder-suicide
TEMPE — Police in Tempe say the shooting deaths of a man and woman last weekend was a murdersuicide.
They say two people were found suffering from gunshot wounds Saturday morning when officers were called out to a reported vehicle burglary.
Police say 30-year-old Lisa Samaniego was pronounced dead at the scene while 40-year-old Antoine Hagler was transported to the hospital where he later died of his injuries.
According to police, the shooting stemmed from a domestic incident.
They say Samaniego’s body was found outside a vehicle while Hagler was found slumped over inside a vehicle.
Police say detectives believe Hagler shot and killed Samaniego before turning the gun on himself.
They say it was an isolated incident of domestic violence between two known parties.