AZ - Sedona, Zaynab Joseph, 40, (visiting from California) fell off 140-foot cliff (now deceased) whilst hiking with her husband and toddler 4/15/24

[mickey2942]

Toni Henthorn was pushed off a cliff by her husband in Rocky Mountain National Park. There were no witnesses, but the federal government was eventually able to build a circumstantial case that was sufficient for a jury to convict. It helped that there was financial fraud and a longstanding pattern of deception on the part of the husband. In fact it looks like the husband may have also killed his first wife for the insurance money.

GUILTY - CO - Dr. Toni Henthorn, 50, dies in cliff fall, Rocky Mountain NP, 29 Sept 2012 *husband arrested*

A Highlands Ranch man indicted in the murder of his second wife, who plunged to her death in Rocky Mountain National Park in 2012, also faces an investigation into the 1995 death of his first wife...

www.websleuths.com

If the allegations are true in this case, I suspect that money will also be at the heart of it. I don't know if Arizona will be willing to put the same time and effort into building a case like the Feds did, but I just wanted to point out it's not impossible to get a conviction if he really did push her.


Edit - Another similar case was the murder of Cody Johnson by his newylwed wife, Jordan Graham. Her motivation was unclear. It seems she may have had a fear of sex, but was pushed to marry because of her religious upbringing. She just told a multitude of lies, which allowed the police to eventually confront her and get a confession. Weird case.

GUILTY - MT - Cody Johnson, 25, pushed off cliff, Glacier Nat'l Park, 7 July 2013

Authorities searching for missing Kalispell man http://www.kbzk.com/news/authorities-searching-for-missing-kalispell-man/

www.websleuths.com

I am positive that my friend did not fall off of a cliff in Zion National Park.

Family sues over woman's '97 fatal Zion fall

Family members of a woman who died in Zion National Park almost six years ago have asked a California judge to do what jurors in Utah failed to do hold Patricia Bottarini's husband responsible for her fatal fall.

www.deseret.com

Bottarini is cleared of all charges

Jurors on Tuesday found James Bottarini not guilty on all federal charges alleging he pushed his wife to her death in Zion National Park five years ago and lied about it to collect more than $1 million.

www.deseret.com

 

[GoBuckeyes]

No. Because it is impossible to prove beyond "reasonable" doubt that it did not happen the way the husband stated. He says it was an "accident". He is the only witness. Injuries on the victim, correspond with falling off a cliff, hitting hard rocks.

It all depends upon what the police find concerning digital evidence.

 

[GoBuckeyes]

I am positive that my friend did not fall off of a cliff in Zion National Park.

Family sues over woman's '97 fatal Zion fall

Family members of a woman who died in Zion National Park almost six years ago have asked a California judge to do what jurors in Utah failed to do hold Patricia Bottarini's husband responsible for her fatal fall.

www.deseret.com

Bottarini is cleared of all charges

Jurors on Tuesday found James Bottarini not guilty on all federal charges alleging he pushed his wife to her death in Zion National Park five years ago and lied about it to collect more than $1 million.

www.deseret.com

How tragic!

 

[mickey2942]

It all depends upon what the police find concerning digital evidence.

If they have enough to file charges and get a warrant. There is a high bar to have sufficient evidence to get a search warrant.

And, if we even do a basic internet search, we can find dozens of articles about people who randomly fall hiking and die. So, it is not uncommon.

That is probably why it really is the perfect crime. And so scary. It is completely premeditated, with a loving spouse planning a "fun" vacation. I know, in my friend's case, she was planning on leaving him. And this was supposedly a time for them to "reconnect". That is why her family was so sure that her fall was not accidental.

But, he was charged, and cleared by a jury. Just like Casey Anthony, and OJ Simpson. Not Guilty.

 

[Laayla]

NEWS
News

Police try to unravel mysterious death of Huntington Beach woman on Arizona hiking trail​

'She was obedient to a fault. … She believed whatever God wanted was going to happen,' said the brother of Zaynab Joseph, who fell 140 feet to her death​

Zaynab Joseph fell 140 feet to her death from an Arizona hiking trail. Police are trying to unravel the mystery of what she and her baby were doing on such a difficult trail and how she went over the ledge. (Photos courtesy of Hassanayn Joseph)

By TONY SAAVEDRA | tsaavedra@scng.com | Orange County Register
UPDATED: July 26, 2024 at 11:17 a.m.



<modsnipped - copyright violation - pasting anything over 10% is a copyright violation per Rules - Copyright Rules - see link>

Police try to unravel mysterious death of Huntington Beach woman on Arizona hiking trail

 

[Knox]

We keep seeing the articles from Zaynab’s brother. But nothing from LE. Where does the death investigation stand?

 

[mickey2942]

The husband laid down and fell asleep? Wow. Who was taking care of the baby?!

 

[Knox]

The husband laid down and fell asleep? Wow. Who was taking care of the baby?!

The article said another hiker had the baby. I don’t know if I believe that detail, it wasn’t in any of the previous stories or in Zaynab’s brothers Facebook account of the fall.

 

[Snoop Sister]

DBM double post

 

[Snoop Sister]

The grieving brother said Zaidi, a stress engineer for Virgin Galactic‘s rockets, told Zaynab’s relatives she lost her life trying to save his phone.

“He gave us this B.S. story about him trying to take her photo, and dropping his phone,” Joseph said.

Exclusive | Woman’s brother claims rocket-scientist husband behind fatal fall off mountain cliff: ‘Just a cruel man’

“He didn’t go to the cemetery and he didn’t bring their kids to the funeral,” Joseph said. “He’s just a cruel man.”

nypost.com

Heavily redacted Huntington Beach Police Department records indicate officers were called to the couple’s home on Harvard Circle three times from Jan. 18 to Feb. 5, for a family disturbance, a “phone call” and to keep the peace. The disturbance call was near midnight.

“He constantly told her she was a bad mother, (he was) very controlling in every way, shape and form,” Joseph said.

“She was obedient to a fault. … She believed whatever God wanted was going to happen.”

Police try to unravel mysterious death of Huntington Beach woman on Arizona hiking trail

Zaynab Joseph, a novice hiker, fell 140 feet to her death during a trek with her husband and infant son on a trail described as “extremely, extremely difficult.”

www.ocregister.com

 

[Betty P]

NEWS
News

Police try to unravel mysterious death of Huntington Beach woman on Arizona hiking trail​

'She was obedient to a fault. … She believed whatever God wanted was going to happen,' said the brother of Zaynab Joseph, who fell 140 feet to her death​

Zaynab Joseph fell 140 feet to her death from an Arizona hiking trail. Police are trying to unravel the mystery of what she and her baby were doing on such a difficult trail and how she went over the ledge. (Photos courtesy of Hassanayn Joseph)

By TONY SAAVEDRA | tsaavedra@scng.com | Orange County Register
UPDATED: July 26, 2024 at 11:17 a.m.



<modsnipped - copyright violation - pasting anything over 10% is a copyright violation per Rules - Copyright Rules - see link>

Police try to unravel mysterious death of Huntington Beach woman on Arizona hiking trail

That story sounds very discouraging. She was in a very unhappy marriage with a controlling and possibly violent husband. She had recently visited an attorney as she pursued a divorce.

The grieving brother said Zaidi, a stress engineer for Virgin Galactic‘s rockets, told Zaynab’s relatives she lost her life trying to save his phone.

“He gave us this B.S. story about him trying to take her photo, and dropping his phone,” Joseph said.

Exclusive | Woman’s brother claims rocket-scientist husband behind fatal fall off mountain cliff: ‘Just a cruel man’

“He didn’t go to the cemetery and he didn’t bring their kids to the funeral,” Joseph said. “He’s just a cruel man.”

nypost.com

Heavily redacted Huntington Beach Police Department records indicate officers were called to the couple’s home on Harvard Circle three times from Jan. 18 to Feb. 5, for a family disturbance, a “phone call” and to keep the peace. The disturbance call was near midnight.

“He constantly told her she was a bad mother, (he was) very controlling in every way, shape and form,” Joseph said.

“She was obedient to a fault. … She believed whatever God wanted was going to happen.”

Police try to unravel mysterious death of Huntington Beach woman on Arizona hiking trail

Zaynab Joseph, a novice hiker, fell 140 feet to her death during a trek with her husband and infant son on a trail described as “extremely, extremely difficult.”

www.ocregister.com

From the link above:

“When we went to speak to (Zaidi), he decided he wanted a lawyer,” said Kristin Greene, a spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Department.

Never a good sign.

 

[Baciagalupo]

I really hope he won't get away with it and take the kids to Pakistan.

 

[AmandaSkis]

I would like confirmation She was planning to divorce him. I wonder what was the final straw for her, as far as no longer wanting to deal with the abuse.

 

[Knox]

I would like confirmation She was planning to divorce him. I wonder what was the final straw for her, as far as no longer wanting to deal with the abuse.

I wonder if he found out she was talking to a lawyer? His name is out there, as the writer of the article said he was called but had no comment to the questions posed.

Also curious what the husband’s family had to say about the hike. IIRC, they were visiting family in Arizona and his Mom was with them on the trip? Was the hike a last minute thing? Did Zaynab want to go? Why take the baby?

The husband doesn’t look like he is an avid hiker or outdoorsman. It just seems strange that he would plan to take Zaynab and the baby on that strenuous trail? I gave him the benefit of doubt in the beginning. But the more we kearn, the more suspicious it seems.

I would really like to hear from LE. Wish a MSM reporter would contact them for an update.

 

[Dre]

How sad! There was always something off about the difficult trail and a baby
I very much hope she receives justice!!!
People don’t own their spouses

 

[Tower]

Maybe she was breast-feeding the baby so figured she could do so during breaks, and the baby would sleep well in the carrier? And felt it was safe enough if the father hiked with the baby in a hiking carrier? JMO.

I think this is quite likely. I am an avid hiker and mountaineer. I went on many hikes with my kids in packs with my husband when my kids were small. Nursing the baby is actually quite efficient because I’d need plenty of water and snacks for myself, but nothing for the baby.

Addressing having babies in packs: they absolutely love it. We took them out for breaks and snacks. They would chatter with us, hum and enjoy every second. Many cultures for centuries have carried babies this way. It is certainly not a negative experience at all for babies to go on reasonable hikes in good weather.

I will note my kids were much younger in this scenario, not really eating food yet, and the trails we hiked were true trails, with good footing, partially because my body was not as dependable to prevent me from falling in the first 1-2 years post-partum.

 

[Tower]

If you ever want to be greatly enlightened in all the ways that people can die in a national park either through happenstance or their own poor judgment, I recommend this book highly. I think about it all the time and certainly every time I'm in a remote area. https://a.co/d/1Vmm4NU

This is a great book! Fascinating.

 

[RickshawFan]

The husband laid down and fell asleep? Wow. Who was taking care of the baby?!

I hope the baby wasn’t rolling over the edge….

 

[Tower]

The husband laid down and fell asleep? Wow. Who was taking care of the baby?!

We are not supposed to judge how others deal with grief, so I will speak only for myself. If my husband had just fallen off a cliff in front of me, I wouldn’t sleep for days and I wouldn’t let go of my tiny baby. Certainly not hand him off to anyone else. That is unusual behavior, in my opinion.

 

[Laayla]

Los Angeles Daily News Investigative Reporting has picked up the story from OC Register.