ISABELLA GROGAN-CANNELLA - 8 yo (9/14) - / Charged: Justin James Rector - Bullhead City, AZ

Police searching for missing girl in Northern AZ

Posted: Updated:
Written by Craig Huber


Undated photos of 8-year-old Isabella Grogan-Cannella, who went missing from her Bullhead City, AZ, home on Tuesday, Sept. 2. (Source: Bullhead City Police Dept.)


BULLHEAD CITY, AZ (FOX5) -


Bullhead City, AZ, police are asking for the public's help in locating an 8-year-old girl who went missing early Tuesday morning.

The Bullhead City Police Department said Isabella Grogan-Cannella disappeared before 1:30 a.m. from her home, located on Lakeside Drive.

The girl, who goes by Bella, is 4'8" tall and between 80 and 90 pounds. She has shoulder-length blond hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing a green, sparkly tank top and dark shorts. She could be barefoot.

Anyone with information concerning the child's whereabouts is urged to call the Bullhead City Police Department at 928-763-1999.

An Amber Alert has not been issued because police have no evidence to suggest the child was abducted.


http://www.fox5vegas.com/story/26431658/police-searching-for-missing-girl-in-northern-az

Man Arrested In Disappearance, Death Of 8-Year-Old Girl

Posted: 09/04/2014 4:25 pm EDT Updated: 4 hours ago



BULLHEAD CITY, Ariz. (AP) -- Police arrested a man Thursday in the disappearance and death of an 8-year-old Arizona girl whose body was discovered in a shallow grave near her home.

Justin James Rector, 26, is being held without bond at the Mohave County jail on murder and kidnapping charges.

Authorities have not said how Isabella "Bella" Grogan-Cannella died or whether the family knows Rector. Bullhead City police confirmed Thursday that her body was found the day before. They planned to release more details about the case at a news conference later Thursday.

Court records indicate Rector has a lengthy criminal record involving a dozen cases in the Bullhead City area between 2006 and 2014. His convictions included disorderly conduct, possession of drug paraphernalia, criminal damage, aggravated assault, assault and criminal trespassing.

Isabella's family reported her missing early Tuesday after she couldn't be found in their home in Bullhead City, which is on the Arizona-Nevada border some 100 miles southeast of Las Vegas.

Dozens of police, firefighters and volunteers had joined the search for the girl with dark blond hair and blue eyes. Her mother told authorities that it would be unusual for Isabella to run away or leave without telling an adult, police spokeswoman Emily Fromelt said.

Investigators found no signs of a break-in or struggle at the home.

The residents of the home include Isabella's mother, stepfather and other children who are not Isabella's siblings, police Lt. Jerry Duke said. He added that Isabella's biological father is not in the area.

KNXV-TV reported (http://bit.ly/1u1REqS ) that investigators served a search warrant at the family's home Thursday morning and could be heard telling people in the residence to come out with their arms up.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/04/death-8-year-old-girl_n_5768110.html

It always turns my stomach over when I have to move these to the murdered thread. 

Twink, you are so right - we all hate to see these moved here.

Police in Arizona have arrested a “family friend” in connection with the kidnapping and murder of 8-year-old Isabella Grogan-Cannella.

Early Thursday morning, Justin James Rector, 26, of Bullhead City, was arrested for kidnapping and first-degree murder, Bullhead City Police said.

On Wednesday, a shallow grave was discovered by a tracking unit with the Mohave County Search and Rescue Team near Chaparral and Newberry Drive in Bullhead City, which is close to Grogan-Cannella's home. The body has since been identified as the girl's, police said.

Grogan-Cannella, known as "Bella," went to bed Monday night but wasn't there when her parents went to check on her shortly before 1:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Rector was a "family friend" of the Grogan-Cannellas and had been living at their home for a few days, Bullhead City Police Chief Brian Williamson said at a Thursday afternoon press conference. He said Bella was last seen about 11:30 p.m. — with Rector — on Monday by her 10-year-old sister, who was going to the bathroom.

When Rector was questioned about the disappearance the next day, his alibi didn’t check out, and it was discovered that he had shoplifted a set of clothes at Wal-Mart, Williamson said.

FBI investigators also “located unique shoeprints at the site, matching Rector’s shoes.” Williamson said.

When asked if any of Bella’s family would be facing any charges, Williams said, “at this point in time I am not ruling out any future arrests” — and mentioned that Child Protective Services was involved in the case.

"She was a typical 8-year-old, played with her dog in back yard and across the street in soccer fields," said neighbor Richard Heymann. "I feel really bad. I couldn't believe it. We're all on shock."

A Facebook page belonging to a Justin Rector of Bullhead has a last post, dated Sept. 2, reading, "Everyone gonna believe what they chose but as of now shes still not home and talking sh-t n making threats doesn't seem like a good strategy on getting her home to me.. everyone's a suspect but I've been interrogated and cleared no charges and I'm still in touch with the authorities."

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/isabella-grogan-cannella-family-friend-arrested-missing-arizona-girl-case-n195871

A "family friend".  Apparently they were trying to help him by letting him stay with them.  What tragic results.

Such a cute little girl.  I can never understand how adults can harm precious little children.  I don't get it, can't wrap my brain around it.

This is gut wrenching.

Justin Rector case update: Camera coverage denied in Bullhead City case

Associated Press
8:14 AM, Oct 1, 2014
1:28 PM, Oct 1, 2014

BULLHEAD CITY, AZ - A judge is refusing to allow video and photographic cameras in the courtroom during proceedings in the case of a Bullhead City man charged in the disappearance and death of an 8-year-old girl.

Judge Lee Jantzen of Mohave County Superior Court on Tuesday rejected news outlets' request to allow camera coverage of the case of Justin James Rector.

Rector has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder, kidnapping, child abuse and abandonment of a body in the death and disappearance of Isabella "Bella" Grogan-Cannella. Her partially naked body was found Sept. 3, a day after she was reported missing from her Bullhead City home.

Jantzen ruled that allowing cameras would affect the ability to find a fair and impartial jury panel and that logistics of the courtroom in Kingman would make it difficult for the media to avoid showing jurors or juvenile witnesses. Additionally, the judge cited concern for the dignity of the proceedings.

"People act differently" when cameras are present, the judge said.

Attorney Monica Limon-Wynn, representing KVVU-TV of Las Vegas, argued that allowing cameras would keep the public informed. She said one camera could be shared by multiple stations.

Prosecutor Greg McPhillips and defense attorney Harry Moore opposed allowing cameras.

McPhillips said it would be difficult to seat a jury if photographs and video footage of the trial were allowed, while Moore said cameras would incite public sentiment against his client and deprive him of his right to a fair trial.

http://www.abc15.com/news/region-northern-az/other/camera-coverage-denied-in-bullhead-city-case

Parents of murdered Bullhead City girl arrested on drug charges

Credit: Bullhead City Police Department

Tania Ann Grogan and Ralph Pat Leroy Folster III


by Christina O'Haver

azfamily.com



Posted on October 15, 2014 at 7:34 PM

Updated yesterday at 9:25 PM

BULLHEAD CITY, Ariz. -- The mother and stepfather of a young girl who was killed last month have been arrested on felony drug charges, according to Bullhead City police.

Authorities began investigating 29-year-old Tania Ann Grogan and her husband, 28-year-old Ralph Pat Leroy Folster III, after receiving a tip in September that the couple was dealing methamphetamine and heroin.

Police and a SWAT team surrounded their Lakeside Drive home around 5 p.m. Wednesday.

According to police, Grogan complied with officers and was taken into custody, but Folster refused to come out.

Police said after a two-hour standoff, Folster climbed up into the attic and tried to enter a neighboring home.

Grogan and Folster were arrested on charges of possessing and selling dangerous drugs. Grogan was also arrested on a charge of manufacturing dangerous drugs.

They will be booked into the Mohave County Jail in Kingman.

Police are executing a search warrant at the couple's home and the neighboring residence where Folster apparently tried to hide.

Police said additional charges are possible.

Authorities are also investigating Grogan for leaving her children in a dangerous environment. The body of her 8-year-old daughter, Isabella Grogan-Cannella, was found in a shallow grave on Sept. 3.

A 26-year-old family friend, Justin James Rector, has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder, kidnapping, child abuse and abandonment of a body. Police say Grogan may have been supplying Rector with methamphetamine.


http://www.azfamily.com/news/Standoff-at-Bullhead-City-home-of-murdered-girl-279376572.html