AZ - Father kills 1-year old daughter with AR-15 in front of child's mother - Show Low, Feb 11, 2025

[Sjöberg]

25.02.2025 article:

The indictment issued earlier this month charges Adam Joseph Montoya, 27, with two felony counts - second-degree murder and child abuse. Montoya has pleaded not guilty to the charges. The Navajo County Public Defender's Office, which is representing Montoya, declined comment Monday.

The shooting took place Feb. 3 at a home in Show Low, a small mountainous community about 180 miles northeast of Phoenix, the Navajo County Attorney's Office said in a statement.
Emergency responders took the 13-month-old baby to a medical center in Show Low where she was pronounced dead, prosecutors said.

 

[Sjöberg]

28.02.2025 article:
According to a news release from the Navajo County Attorney's Office, police responded to a shooting at a residence on Feb. 3 that involved the death of a 13-month-old infant. Per the release, 27-year-old Adam Joseph Montoya shot his child with an AR-15 rifle, killing her, as the baby's mother was forced to watch.

 

[Niner]

28.02.2025 article:
According to a news release from the Navajo County Attorney's Office, police responded to a shooting at a residence on Feb. 3 that involved the death of a 13-month-old infant. Per the release, 27-year-old Adam Joseph Montoya shot his child with an AR-15 rifle, killing her, as the baby's mother was forced to watch.

View attachment 605259

Thanks for those 2 articles - are you finding any after June, 2025? The court site is NOT the greatest - it gives very little detail on what is going on with the case.

 

[Sjöberg]

Thanks for those 2 articles - are you finding any after June, 2025? The court site is NOT the greatest - it gives very little detail on what is going on with the case.

No, it is oddly quiet.
I was actually looking for newer ones, any updates or anything, but came up with just posts about his namesakes here and there. This case seems to have virtually no coverage after the initial arrest.

 

[Niner]

No, it is oddly quiet.
I was actually looking for newer ones, any updates or anything, but came up with just posts about his namesakes here and there. This case seems to have virtually no coverage after the initial arrest.

Oh good - (not really) - but I could not find anything current either - thought it was because I'm in the EU. Again - thanks for bringing those articles to here!

 

[Niner]

Case Activity
Date Description Party
8/21/2025 MinuteEntry event for MINUTE ENTRY: CRIMINAL MINUTE ENTRY (G D1
8/21/2025 MinuteEntry event for MINUTE ENTRY: CRIMINAL MINUTE ENTRY (G P1

link: Public Access Case Lookup


I "think" he had a hearing on 8/21/25 re minute entries... lousy court site.

 

[Niner]

So - will go ahead & post this to keep my notes straight.

Thursday, August 21st:
*Pretrial Conference Hearing (@ am AZT) – AZ - *Girl, 1 years old, died from a fatal shot from her father with an AR-15 rifle on Feb. 3, 2025, Slow Low. *Adam Joseph Montoya (27/now 28) arrested (2/3/25), charged & indicted (2/11/25) on 2nd degree murder & child abuse. $1M bond. Navajo County
Case & court info from 2/3/25 thru 5/30/25 reference post #18 here:
https://websleuths.com/threads/az-f...of-childs-mother-show-low-feb-11-2025.737509/
6/2/25 Docket update: Motion for extension of time by Prosecutors & defense. 6/17/25 Update: Minute entry event for Criminal minute entry hearing on 6/17/25. 6/17/25 Update: Next hearing on 7/17/25. 7/17/25 Docket update: Minute entry event for criminal minute entry.
8/21/25 Docket Update: Minute entry event for criminal minute entry for hearing on 8/21/25.

 

[Niner]

Looks like he had 2 hearings already - I shall move him to 9/23/25 in my notes.

Case Activity
Date Description Party
9/23/2025 MinuteEntry event for MINUTE ENTRY: CRIMINAL MINUTE ENTRY (G P1
9/23/2025 MinuteEntry event for MINUTE ENTRY: CRIMINAL MINUTE ENTRY (G D1

9/4/2025 MinuteEntry event for MINUTE ENTRY: CRIMINAL MINUTE ENTRY (G P1
9/4/2025 MinuteEntry event for MINUTE ENTRY: CRIMINAL MINUTE ENTRY (G D1

link: Public Access Case Lookup

 

[Niner]

Tuesday, Sept. 23rd:
*Pretrial Conference Hearing (@ am AZT) – AZ - *Girl, 1 years old, died from a fatal shot from her father with an AR-15 rifle on Feb. 3, 2025, Slow Low. *Adam Joseph Montoya (27/now 28) arrested (2/3/25), charged & indicted (2/11/25) on 2nd degree murder & child abuse. $1M bond. Navajo County
Case & court info from 2/3/25 thru 5/30/25 reference post #18 here:
https://websleuths.com/threads/az-f...of-childs-mother-show-low-feb-11-2025.737509/
6/2/25 Docket update: Motion for extension of time by Prosecutors & defense. 6/17/25 Update: Minute entry event for Criminal minute entry hearing on 6/17/25. 6/17/25 Update: Next hearing on 7/17/25. 7/17/25 Docket update: Minute entry event for criminal minute entry.
8/21/25 Docket Update: Minute entry event for criminal minute entry for hearing on 8/21/25. Next hearing on 9/4/25. 9/4/25 Docket update: Minute entry for event. Next hearing on 9/23/25. 9/23/25 Docket update: Minute entry for event.

 

[Niner]

Looks like he might have had a hearing on 9/30/25 - changed his plea


Case Activity
Date Description Party
9/30/2025 MinuteEntry event for Minute Entry: Change of Plea P1
9/30/2025 MinuteEntry event for Minute Entry: Change of Plea D1

9/23/2025 MinuteEntry event for MINUTE ENTRY: CRIMINAL MINUTE ENTRY (G

link: Public Access Case Lookup


and of course not finding ANY articles on "what" that plea was... anyone in the U.S. have a better search??

 

[Niner]

Well - I have NO idea "what" his plea agreement is/was - probably plead guilty - but I am finding absolutely nothing on this case - last article is from Feb. 2025.

Case Activity
Date Description Party
10/6/2025 NOTICE: OF FILING D1
10/6/2025 PLEA AGREEMENT: PLEA AGREEMENT D1

9/30/2025 MinuteEntry event for Minute Entry: Change of Plea P1

link: Public Access Case Lookup


edited to add - wondering if he got sentenced on 10/6??

 

[Niner]

Still not finding any articles on his plea agreement - but it looks like another hearing was held on 10/28/25. Wondering if that was his sentencing date??

Case Activity
Date Description Party
10/28/2025 Minute Entry event for MINUTE ENTRY: CRIMINAL MINUTE ENTRY (G D1
10/28/2025 Minute Entry event for MINUTE ENTRY: CRIMINAL MINUTE ENTRY (G P1

10/6/2025 NOTICE: OF FILING D1
10/6/2025 PLEA AGREEMENT: PLEA AGREEMENT

link: Public Access Case Lookup

 

[Niner]

Not finding ANY articles on what his sentence was - I left a message on a FB page I found for the DA of Navajo County - so we shall see...

Just a docket update so far. As I've said before - lousy court site....

Case Activity
Date Description Party
11/6/2025 MINUTE ENTRY: SENTENCING D1
11/6/2025 NOTICE: RIGHT TO REVIEW AFTER CONVICTION D1

link: Public Access Case Lookup


edited to add: I shall move him to Nov 6th in my notes as that looks like his sentencing date.

 

[brazgal]

I found the baby's name! I was so annoyed that we only knew her as 1-year-old girl

https://dcs.az.gov/sites/default/files/CF-NF-SummaryReport%20/Fatality-SummaryReport-ZM_0.pdf

1. Victim: Zeevah Montoya – 1-year-old female
2. Was the child residing in the child's home or in an out-of-home placement at the timeof the fatality? The child was residing in her home when the following incident occurred: On February 13, 2025, the Department of Child Safety received a report that 1-year-old Zeevah Montoya was shot and killed in her home approximately one week prior to the report. On February 11, 2025, the child’s father, Adam Montoya, was indicted by a Navajo County Grand Jury on charges of second-degree murder and child abuse in relation to Zeevah’s death.

 

[Niner]

I found the baby's name! I was so annoyed that we only knew her as 1-year-old girl

https://dcs.az.gov/sites/default/files/CF-NF-SummaryReport%20/Fatality-SummaryReport-ZM_0.pdf

1. Victim: Zeevah Montoya – 1-year-old female
2. Was the child residing in the child's home or in an out-of-home placement at the timeof the fatality? The child was residing in her home when the following incident occurred: On February 13, 2025, the Department of Child Safety received a report that 1-year-old Zeevah Montoya was shot and killed in her home approximately one week prior to the report. On February 11, 2025, the child’s father, Adam Montoya, was indicted by a Navajo County Grand Jury on charges of second-degree murder and child abuse in relation to Zeevah’s death.

Yes - I found her name a few days ago.

Have you found anything on his sentencing? TIA!

 

[brazgal]

Yes - I found her name a few days ago.

Have you found anything on his sentencing? TIA!

Absolutely nothing, I'm sorry.

 

[katydid23]

How could anyone shoot their baby girl in the head, and just to destroy the mother?

He should never walk free again. No chance of rehabilitation ever---it's not possible. He is too far gone. Soulless.

 

[Niner]

Absolutely nothing, I'm sorry.

No need to be sorry - not your fault!

I guess we just wait until something comes up about his sentencing. Maybe I will get a reply at the DA's FB page.

 

[Niner]

Still not finding any updated articles on what his sentence was....

Here's an update on the court site - not much...

ADAM JOSEPH MONTOYA DEFENDANT - D1 Date of Birth: 03/1997
Citation Count Description Disp. Date Disposition
1 MANSLAUGHTER-RECKLESS 11/6/2025 Guilty
2 CHILD/VULNERABLE ADULT ABUSE 11/6/2025 Guilty
STATE OF ARIZONA PLAINTIFF - P1


Case Activity
Date Description Party
11/12/2025 Case placed on contract D1
11/12/2025 OLCP POST DISPOSITION AUTO SEND D1

link: Public Access Case Lookup

 

[Mandi3020]

How could anyone shoot their baby girl in the head, and just to destroy the mother?

He should never walk free again. No chance of rehabilitation ever---it's not possible. He is too far gone. Soulless.

Pure evil, that’s how. I’m a Christian and in these type cases I struggle because I feel hatred towards the perpetrator. I want prison justice for this guy because that’s what he deserves, followed by an eternity in Hell.