Police in Tempe arrested two men that are tied into the murder of 21 year old ASU student Zachary Marco over the course of the past two teeks. Today, police announced that a third man has been arrested.

At around 9:30 p.m. on October 17 while he was walking home, Marco was approached by a number of men who attempted to steal his valuables. While defending himself, he was shot and killed at the scene. The men got away with a laptop and a cell phone.

Two weeks ago, Louis Harper, 20, was arrested on unrelated charges but was later tied to the murder. Marion Patterson, 17, was nabbed Monday night in Tempe after taking police on a short-lived foot chase. Harper has been labeled as the shooter by police, while Patterson was an accomplice looking for someone to rob. The third name has not been released as of yet.

The men were linked to the crime by text messages they sent from the victim’s phone bragging about their robbery. Fingerprints of the two criminals were matched with Marco’s computer bag, which was found in an undisclosed location. Both men are habitual criminals and not very shockingly have a history of being in gangs.

Marco had a promising future ahead of him as a political science major. He was planning on going into the family business of law and was among 50 applicants to be an intern with the U.S. Senate.

Both Harper and Patterson face charges of first-degree murder and armed robbery.

The victim’s father, Daniel, stirred up minor controversy when he offered those responsible for his son’s murder the best legal defense team possible – if they came forward themselves. He has since retracted the offer.

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The eighth suspect  in the July shooting death of Chandler undercover detective Carlos Ledesma has been arrested by U.S. Marshals in Chicago. Ledesma was gunned down in Phoenix during a botched undercover drug deal on July 28. Two other officers were shot, and two suspects were killed in the firefight that was started over the drug dealers trying to screw them out of $250,000 worth of weed.

Marshals apprehended 39 year old Anthony Wright in the parking lot of a Chicago Walgreens without struggle after tailing him from a home. He had been previously tied to three locations, including as far away as the Virgin Islands. He faces charges related to the murder, as well as the foiled drug deal.

Two of the suspects, Darnell Jackson and Eldridge Gittens, were recommended as suitable for the death penalty last month in Maricopa County court. The Maricopa County Attorney Rick Romley has requested a 60 day continuance of the court hearings to complete lab work that could further incriminate other suspects. The Capital Review Commitee will also decide whether they should pursue the death penalty against Jerry Cockhearn, a third suspect charged in the case.

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An identity has been placed on the man who was beheaded and found on the floor of a Chandler apartment.

The headless man, 38 year old Martin Cota-Monroy, was from Mexico and may have been killed in connection with a drug cartel. Three of the four suspects remain on the loose and are probably back in Mexico, according to authorities. Juan Campos Aguilar, Jose David Castro Reyes and a man known as “El Joto” are on the run in a 2003 Red Ford Expedition with California license plate No. 6FWR784.

Initial reports state that his death may have been attributed to a ritual entitled “Santa Muerte” due to the findings of candles and a Ouija board in the apartment. However, police say that there was nothing ritualistic about the murder and the items found were a part of a discussion that got heated.

Crisantos Moroyoqui has been arrested in connection with the murder, and isn’t cooperating with authorities.

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A gruesome discovery has Chandler police on the lookout for suspects, with one in custody.

Early Sunday morning, police rushed to an apartment where a decapitated Hispanic male body was found, with the head of the now  headless 30 year old lying next to the body. He appeared to have been stabbed prior to the morbid event at the apartment complex on Fairview Street.

The man in custody, 36 year old Cristanos Moroyoqui, is charged with second degree murder and hindering prosecution. He lived close to the victim and apparently knew him well, according to police. One of the men who was living with the accused murder noticed his bloody shoes and tipped off police. In addition, Moroyoqui is an illegal immigrant.

There was heavy drinking going on the night of the murder, and some of the men left the apartment to go to a casino. An hour later, the men at the apartment awoke to the headless carcass.

The three men police are looking for are as follows:

Juan Campos Morales Aguilar, aka Isai, is described as Hispanic, 220 pounds, with short dark hair and a thin mustache. He was last seen wearing a black shirt with a white T-shirt and blue jeans.

Jose David Castro Reyes, 25, is described as Hispanic, 5 feet 10 inches tall, 180 pounds, has short hair and is clean shaven. He was last seen wearing blue jeans, a white shirt and a white T-shirt.

The third suspect is known only as “El Joto.” He is described as Hispanic, 5 feet 2 inches to 5 feet 4 inches tall, with a thin build, a goatee and short, spiked black hair. He was last seen wearing a white T-shirt with a black patterned shirt and Levi’s.

The men are most likely driving a 2003 Red Ford Expedition with California plate 6FWR784.

If you have any further information regarding this gruesome murder, please call Chandler Police at480-782-4130.

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