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Remains in barrels those of missing Peoria woman, daughter
The Arizona Republic
Nov. 2, 2005 04:00 PM
Human remains found inside 55-gallon drums at a construction site are those of a 53-year-old West Valley woman and her teenage daughter, whose disappearances in the summer of 2001 eventually led to the murder conviction of the woman's husband, authorities announced Wednesday.
Maricopa County Sheriff's officials say DNA tests of the remains confirmed them to be of Donna Anthony and her 14-year-old daughter, Danielle Romero. Tests are being done to determine whether additional remains are those of the other child Richard Romero, 12.<
Two of the drums were uncovered on Oct. 19 by construction workers preparing to build a retail center in the West Valley city of Buckeye. A third barrel containing more remains was discovered on Monday by sheriff's detectives using a metal detector on loan from the U.S. Air Force. advertisement
In all three barrels, Sheriff Joe Arpaio said, an unknown highly corrosive substance was used in an attempt to destroy the identities of the victims.
David Anthony was convicted in April 2002 of killing his wife of five years, Donna and her two children. He is on Arizona's death row.
On Wednesday, Arpaio called a surviving daughter of Donna Anthony in Portland, Ore., to notify the developments. His office said that Bev Elwell, 35, released a short statement to the press: "Our family has been waiting four long years for some sort of closure to this tragedy. While not all of our questions will be answered with the recent discovery, the most important one has. We know of their whereabouts."
Sheriff's investigators starting looking into the disappearance on July 12, 2001 after concerned family members called authorities and reported not seeing them for at least five days.
David Anthony maintained in the ensuing weeks that his family might have been visiting relatives out of state.
Sheriff's investigators found evidence of a violent struggle at the family home in the 8400 block of West Pinnacle Peak and charged him on three counts of homicide. A jury convicted him on all counts.
Several times in the last four years, Arpaio assigned his posses and deputies to countywide searches of mine shafts, lakes and remote desert areas in an attempt to find the victims - during that time, David Anthony repeatedly told reporters he was innocent, that his family was still alive and that authorities had framed him.
"The discovery of these three bodies is more than extraordinary luck," Arpaio said in a press release."This county covers 9200 square miles - it's bigger than some U.S. states. This was truly like finding a needle in a haystack."
i was hoping that she would come back alive but deep down i knew that it wasnt going to happen. this is just the nail in the coffin. i miss her... :(
The Arizona Republic
Nov. 2, 2005 04:00 PM
Human remains found inside 55-gallon drums at a construction site are those of a 53-year-old West Valley woman and her teenage daughter, whose disappearances in the summer of 2001 eventually led to the murder conviction of the woman's husband, authorities announced Wednesday.
Maricopa County Sheriff's officials say DNA tests of the remains confirmed them to be of Donna Anthony and her 14-year-old daughter, Danielle Romero. Tests are being done to determine whether additional remains are those of the other child Richard Romero, 12.<
Two of the drums were uncovered on Oct. 19 by construction workers preparing to build a retail center in the West Valley city of Buckeye. A third barrel containing more remains was discovered on Monday by sheriff's detectives using a metal detector on loan from the U.S. Air Force. advertisement
In all three barrels, Sheriff Joe Arpaio said, an unknown highly corrosive substance was used in an attempt to destroy the identities of the victims.
David Anthony was convicted in April 2002 of killing his wife of five years, Donna and her two children. He is on Arizona's death row.
On Wednesday, Arpaio called a surviving daughter of Donna Anthony in Portland, Ore., to notify the developments. His office said that Bev Elwell, 35, released a short statement to the press: "Our family has been waiting four long years for some sort of closure to this tragedy. While not all of our questions will be answered with the recent discovery, the most important one has. We know of their whereabouts."
Sheriff's investigators starting looking into the disappearance on July 12, 2001 after concerned family members called authorities and reported not seeing them for at least five days.
David Anthony maintained in the ensuing weeks that his family might have been visiting relatives out of state.
Sheriff's investigators found evidence of a violent struggle at the family home in the 8400 block of West Pinnacle Peak and charged him on three counts of homicide. A jury convicted him on all counts.
Several times in the last four years, Arpaio assigned his posses and deputies to countywide searches of mine shafts, lakes and remote desert areas in an attempt to find the victims - during that time, David Anthony repeatedly told reporters he was innocent, that his family was still alive and that authorities had framed him.
"The discovery of these three bodies is more than extraordinary luck," Arpaio said in a press release."This county covers 9200 square miles - it's bigger than some U.S. states. This was truly like finding a needle in a haystack."
i was hoping that she would come back alive but deep down i knew that it wasnt going to happen. this is just the nail in the coffin. i miss her... :(