2024’s Grim Review: 9 Homicides and Alarming Fatalities

On February 21, 2024, crews recovered a blue Hyundai from a lake located at the intersection of Rummy Road and Pinochle Lane in the Province neighborhood. The car was submerged, leading to a tragic discovery linked to a missing person case.

In January, Dena Paige Devine, 53, faced grave charges after fatally striking motorcyclist Jordan Piergrossi, 47, while under the influence. Devine had consumed several beers and taken a marijuana edible prior to the accident. Public outcry prompted Pinal County Attorney Kent Volkmer to announce renewed charges for DUI and manslaughter after a grand jury initially dismissed the case. Defense claims suggest Piergrossi may have been speeding, complicating matters further.

In an unsettling incident at The Roost Sports Bar & Café, staff member Shawn Black, 42, was found dead from acute alcohol intoxication. He was discovered before 9 a.m. The bar has since closed, adding to the shock of the event as no statement has been issued regarding the circumstances surrounding his death.

Sandra Karelsen, 67, was identified as the missing woman whose body was located in the submerged Hyundai. Initial reports indicated she drowned, with no apparent injuries. Investigators are still trying to determine the events that led to her unfortunate plunge into the water.

In another tragic case, a landscaper drowned in a Rancho El Dorado pool while on the job. Authorities have ruled out foul play, but complications regarding the man’s potential non-resident status delayed identification efforts. His identity remains unknown as the investigation continues.

The discovery of 24-year-old Makaiel Thomas’s body in Maricopa Meadows has left authorities puzzled. Found with a knife in his abdomen and signs of decomposition, the case has been labeled “undetermined.” Investigators are exploring various angles, but the absence of clear evidence complicates the matter.

Allen Kay Sackett, 45, experienced a life-threatening incident when he lost control of his paramotor, crashing near Murphy and La Brea roads. The cause remains unclear as investigators examine the circumstances surrounding the accident.

A disturbing child exploitation case escalated when Brian Moehr, 37, died by suicide shortly after being released on bail. Arrested for possessing child pornography, he was linked to explicit materials uploaded from his Maricopa home. His tragic end complicates ongoing investigations.

Maricopa and Pinal Counties have faced a startling increase in pediatric drownings, reaching 13 in the first half of 2024. This alarming statistic reflects a concerning trend, particularly highlighted by the recent drowning of 1-year-old Samuel “Luke” Rosales in a Stanfield pool.

Finally, a tragic accident occurred during a flashlight demonstration when Jacob N. Begaye, 31, unintentionally shot himself in the kitchen of his Homestead home. The tragic incident left his family in shock as they witnessed his sudden collapse, resulting in a rush to the hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly after.