Ariz. Murder Suspects Allegedly Sent Photos of Victim's Brutally Mutilated Body to His Family
Mar. 15, 2025Jose Rodriguez, left, Leonardo Santiago, center, and Manuel Carrasco Calderon.Photo:Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (3)
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Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (3)
Three Phoenix, Ariz., men have been charged in connection with the brutal murder of a man found dead on a trail with “significant bodily trauma,” the city’s police department says.
Leonardo Santiago, 21, Manuel Carrasco Calderon, 21, and Jose Rodriguez, 20 were arrested and each charged with first-degree murder in the Nov. 26 death of Bernardo Pantaleon, 30, jail records indicate.
AZ Family reported, citing court documents, that pictures of Pantaleon’s mutilated body as well as another of a person flipping their middle finger were sent to his family via social media.
In court documents, police say messages in a groupchat sent among the three derided Pantaleon, who was gay, for his sexuality, FOX 10 reported.
Pantaleon’s family started aGoFundMein the aftermath of his death.
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“As some of you may know we have lost a loved one in our family,” the GoFundMe organizer wrote. “A person who was not just full of love, but the funniest, caring loving person you will come across. It was never a dull moment with him. Bernardo was the rock for his siblings after the loss of their parents. Unfortunately, we are mourning him as we have lost him in the most tragic way possible. He will be missed and didn’t deserve to suffer the way he did.”
Bernardo Pantaleon.Diana Pantaleon/GoFundMe
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Diana Pantaleon/GoFundMe
The GoFundMe has raised more than $5,000.
In addition to first-degree murder, the trio were also charged with assisting a street gang, while Santiago and Carrasco Calderon were charged with crimes against a dead person, according to jail records. All three are in the custody of the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.
It is not immediately if any of the three have retained attorneys or entered a plea. They are due in court Friday.
source: people.com
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