GUILTY AZ - Michael, 44, & Tina Careccia, 42, Maricopa, 22 June 2015 - #3 *Arrest*

[CatsInTheCradle]

The autopsy was released. They both had meth in their system. http://www.trivalleycentral.com/casa_grande_dispatch/

Disappointed, but not surprised. It just goes to show that a picture is not worth a thousand words. Both Michael and Tina were beautiful, healthy, happy looking people from all of their photos. So sad for all of their children and family members to have to deal with this on top of dealing with their murders.

 

[geevee]

I'm really sorry to read this, the family sure didn't need more pain heaped upon them. I do wish someone would quantify the '15 times more meth in her system as his', was his just a miniscule amount and her's "normal" (whatever that is) or did she have so much she could have overdosed? 15 times sounds huge but it's all in comparison to how much he had in his. And why just one bullet in each of their heads? If there was an altercation and fight with Mike to begin with, I'd expect more than just one shot to his head if they were on the floor as the roommate who fled said.

 

[larsinaz]

Death Penalty Sought...
http://www.fox10tv.com/story/310163...an-accused-of-killing-burying-maricopa-couple

...Valenzuela allegedly committed the offense in an "especially heinous, cruel, or depraved manner."

 

[orangecrush]

Update on the case: its been sent back to a Pinal County grand jury. From the article here:

"James Mannato, a county public defender representing Valenzuela, filed a motion to remand, arguing that the county attorney's office presented no evidence to support motive or premeditation in the killings.

Mannato said a sheriff's detective gave misleading testimony during the grand jury proceedings, essentially speaking for Valenzuela when he was actually stating his personal opinion of what happened the night of the killings.

Mannato said he's hopeful a new grand jury will reach a different conclusion in the case and the defense will have the opportunity at a hearing to challenge the state's alleged aggravating factors that it believes justifies the death penalty."

 

[jkly]

Update on the case: its been sent back to a Pinal County grand jury. From the article here:

"James Mannato, a county public defender representing Valenzuela, filed a motion to remand, arguing that the county attorney's office presented no evidence to support motive or premeditation in the killings.

Mannato said a sheriff's detective gave misleading testimony during the grand jury proceedings, essentially speaking for Valenzuela when he was actually stating his personal opinion of what happened the night of the killings.

Mannato said he's hopeful a new grand jury will reach a different conclusion in the case and the defense will have the opportunity at a hearing to challenge the state's alleged aggravating factors that it believes justifies the death penalty."

Ugh. Are they joking?

 

[0101ABA]

Jose Valenzuela, the suspected killer of a Maricopa couple in June 2015, appeared in court Monday afternoon.

The prosecution asked Judge Kevin White to set a January trial date but Pinal County Public Defender James Mannato said that was an attempt to “hustle the trial” and that doing so would be “totally against the interest of justice.”

(...)

He said that is due in part to a witness who is an undocumented immigrant and whose location has not been disclosed to the defense.

White chose not to set a trial date, but he said he will set one at the next hearing on July 29

http://www.trivalleycentral.com/cas...cle_3045b192-2d90-11e6-8f75-1751fd89dfa5.html

 

[jkly]

A trial date has been set. Apparently they're aiming for early 2018.

http://www.kvoa.com/story/32574793/trial-date-set-for-man-accused-of-killing-a-maricopa-couple

 

[JerseyGirl]

Man accused of killing Maricopa couple may get trial in 2019

http://www.azfamily.com/story/38081691/man-accused-of-killing-maricopa-couple-may-get-trial-in-2019

 

[JerseyGirl]

38-year-old Maricopa resident Jose Valenzuela told investigators he shot Mike and Tina Careccia with a .22 caliber Magnum handgun at his home following a dispute.

Babeu: Suspected killer of Mike and Tina Careccia confessed to murder

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Jose Valenzuela, 42, was spared the death penalty under a plea deal with prosecutors in the 2015 murders of Tina and Michael Careccia, each killed by a single shot to the head during an altercation at the shooter’s home.

Valenzuela, who admitted to taking methamphetamine at the time, pleaded guilty in July to first-degree murder in Tina Careccia’s death and second-degree murder in Michael Careccia’s killing, documents showed.

Pinal County Superior Court Judge Christopher O’Neil gave Valenzuela a life sentence without the possibility of parole for the first-degree charge and 25 years for the second-degree murder, the maximum allowed under state law.
Arizona man gets life sentence for killing, burying couple