An Arizona couple was arrested after allegedly stabbing a registered sex offender to death and leaving his body in a desert area, authorities said.
Jacob Middlebrook, 35, and his girlfriend, Layne McIntosh, 36, were initially arrested on second-degree homicide charges in connection with the death of 29-year-old Arron Christopher Warren, according to the Bullhead City Police Department.
The investigation began Saturday when a motorist discovered a dead man along the roadside in the 3100 block of Silver Creek Road. Because the circumstances appeared suspicious, detectives responded and opened a homicide investigation.
Jacob Middlebrook and his girlfriend, Layne McIntosh, are facing homicide charges. (Bullhead City Police)
Detectives identified the victim as Warren, whom police described as a Bullhead City “transient.” Investigators also developed a possible suspect and learned that Warren’s vehicle was missing.
Several hours later, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police helped Bullhead City detectives locate the vehicle at a casino in Laughlin, Nevada.
Las Vegas police arrested Middlebrook and McIntosh and booked them into the Clark County Detention Center in Las Vegas. They are expected to remain there until they can be extradited to Mohave County, Arizona.
The charges against both suspects were upgraded to first-degree homicide on Monday.
Investigators said Middlebrook and McIntosh were also “local transients” and had known Warren for several months.
“Detectives discovered that the couple had expressed distaste for registered sex offenders and had planned the homicide in advance,” Bullhead City police said.
“The couple reportedly pre-determined the desert location where they intended to leave Warren’s body. They also reportedly measured furniture/beds that could be large enough to cover the victim’s body along the side of the road. Warren was a registered Level 2 sex offender,” the department added.
Bullhead City, Arizona, police say a couple allegedly stabbed a registered sex offender to death and planned the homicide beforehand. (Bullhead City Police)
Bullhead City Police Chief Paul George said the department informs residents when certain registered sex offenders move into the community or change addresses. However, he emphasized that he “will not tolerate anyone using this information as a reason to threaten, intimidate, harass or harm another person.”
“When a Level 2 or Level 3 sex offender moves into our area or, more commonly, changes addresses, the Bullhead City Police Department shares that information as a public service to help keep residents informed,” George said in a statement. “While required notifications are mailed to residents living within an approximate 1,000 feet radius of an offender’s registered address, we go a step further by sharing these notifications on social media to reach a broader audience. Our goal is to provide information, not create fear or alarm. We believe an informed community is a safer community.”
“Our Bureau of Criminal Investigations conducts monthly address verification checks to help ensure registered sex offenders are complying with registration requirements. Our responsibility is to protect our community, keep residents informed and enforce the law. We take all three of these seriously,” George continued.