Family friend charged with murdering missing 8-year-old Arizona girl

The body of a missing 8-year-old girl was discovered in a shallow grave in Arizona, and a 26-year-old man who had been living at her family’s home has been charged with her death, police said Thursday.

Isabella Grogan-Cannella’s body was found Wednesday near her home in Bullhead City, a municipality of nearly 40,000 that sits on the Arizona-Nevada border southeast of Las Vegas, according to a statement issued by police.

Justin James Rector, described by police as a family friend who was staying at the victim’s home, was charged Thursday morning with murder and kidnapping.

Police have not said how Isabella died, but she was not wearing any pants or underwear when police found her body Wednesday, according to court records. The girl’s family reported her missing Tuesday.

“My heart goes out to Bella, her family and this entire community,” Police Chief Brian Williamson said after announcing Rector’s arrest Thursday.

Isabella was last seen with Rector about 11:30 Monday night, Williamson said at a news conference. The victim’s 10-year-old sister told police she was playing hide-and-seek with the victim when the sister went to the bathroom, but when she came out, both Rector and the little girl were gone.

She did not hear any loud noises or a struggle, Williamson said. There were no signs of forced entry or a struggle at the home, so an Amber Alert was not issued, Williamson said previously.

Williamson said Rector had been living at the victim’s home for several days, and several other people were also “staying at or living in” the house.

Rector, who was described as homeless, was found by police wandering near Highway 95 about 3:20 a.m., according to court records released Thursday afternoon.

He told police he had shoplifted clothing from a Wal-Mart and was arrested a short time later. Rector also may have lied to police about visiting a friend in the hours after Isabella disappeared.

Federal investigators later found Rector’s shoe prints near where Isabella was buried., Williamson said, and Rector was charged in Isabella’s death Thursday morning.

The chief did not comment on a motive in Isabella’s death, but said he would not rule out additional arrests or further charges against Rector.

Bullhead City police had arrested Rector previously on minor offenses. He is scheduled to appear in court Sept. 12, records show.

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