Phoenix police arrested two suspects last week in connection to the dismembered body of an 80-year-old Air Force veteran whose body parts were found stuffed in garbage bags.
Thomas Wallace, 58, is being held on $1 million bail and faces multiple felony charges on suspicion of second-degree murder, concealing a body, theft of conveyances and trafficking in stolen property, according to the local FOX affiliate. 10.
Ramona González was also jailed on suspicion of fraud and robbery.
The body of the victim, whose identity has not yet been released, was found on November 1 when police conducted a welfare check after family members had not heard from him for about a month. They were concerned that he might have died of diabetes at his residence, according to court documents.
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Thomas Wallace, left, and Ramona Gonzalez, right, were arrested after police found dismembered body parts of an Air Force veteran.
(Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office)
When police checked it out, neighbors said they hadn’t seen the victim for about three to four weeks. Upon entering the victim’s residence, officers found “a strong foul odor” inside and discovered two black trash bags in the bedroom containing parts of her dismembered body.
Homicide investigators later found blood on the living room ceiling, as well as on various walls and furniture. They also found the victim’s decapitated head in a pile of sheets.
Investigators discovered that Gonzalez had moved into the victim’s home last year and allegedly pawned his possessions and often stole his vehicle to support his drug addiction, according to court documents. Wallace moved into the house in April.
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A view of the Phoenix skyline at sunset.
(Lightvision, LLC via Getty Images)
Investigators also discovered that Wallace had pawned items last month that included a chainsaw, a hedge trimmer and a bag containing a camera and the victim’s business card. Police recovered the items from the pawnshop, saying they exhibited a “smell of decomposition.”
Crime scene personnel then found what appeared to be torn flesh, torn ligaments, and biological matter on the chainsaw.
Authorities took Wallace and Gonzalez into custody after following them to a motel where they found the victim’s missing truck.
This file image shows crime scene tape and police siren lights.
(iStock)
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“It’s sick,” said Minoca Moreno, who lives in the area. “It’s sick to do something like that to another human being.”
Associated Press contributed to this report.
