Carol Hatley

Overview

Carol Hatley was sentenced to 22 years in prison for the murder of her mother, Deborah Hatley, in a case involving dismemberment.

Timeline

• July 30, 2012 — Phoenix police found the body of 73-year-old Deborah Hatley at the home she shared with her daughter, Carol Hatley, in the 12000 block of N. 47th Avenue near Cactus Road; Deborah Hatley was in the process of being dismembered.
• 3:30 a.m. Monday (after July 30, 2012) — Carol Hatley went to neighbor Regina Martinez to call 911.
• April 24, 2013 — Carol Hatley was sentenced to 22 years in prison after entering into a plea agreement for second-degree murder.

The offence

Deborah Hatley, 73, was murdered and was found in the process of being dismembered in the home she shared with her daughter, Carol Hatley.

Maricopa County prosecutors said Carol Hatley entered into a plea agreement for second-degree murder and was sentenced to 22 years in prison.

Police said Carol Hatley stabbed her mother to death and began dismembering her.

Investigation

Phoenix police reported that Carol Hatley did not confess to killing her mother. She claimed she was wrapping her mother in plastic bags in order to take her to a hospital.

Officers reported finding large garbage bags that they believed she was planning to use to get rid of the body.

When officers arrived, police reported that Carol Hatley was drunk and gave inconsistent statements about what had happened. Investigators described her as “clearly deceptive” to investigators.

Police reported that Carol Hatley admitted to “tampering with evidence.”

A detective’s probable-cause statement said Carol Hatley was “extremely passive and did not express concern.”

A probable-cause statement noted that Carol Hatley was inconsistent in her stories to police and was “clearly deceptive to investigators.” It also said her story did not match up to what was found at the crime scene.

Court documents said Carol Hatley described her mother’s injuries in “graphic detail,” and police said she had “obvious trauma to her body.”

Court documents said Carol Hatley admitted to handling two weapons that were “left” at the scene of the crime.

Arrest and statements

Carol Hatley was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder and was jailed on one count of second-degree murder, with bond set at $1 million.

At the time of police arrival, neighbor Regina Martinez said: “She just said her mother had passed and that she was dead and that she needed some help. She was not all bloody, she was drunk.”

Melanie Hatley, Deborah Hatley’s daughter-in-law until a few months ago, was described as saying Deborah Hatley had “great love for her children” and was “a wonderful lady,” and said: “She had that Southern charm. Uh, great sense of humor, very kind, very loving ... she adored her children, absolutely adored her children.”

Carol Hatley’s family told police that she had an “alcohol dependency,” and “had the potential for violence when intoxicated.”

Trial and plea

Carol Hatley entered into a plea agreement for second-degree murder. On April 24, 2013, she was sentenced to 22 years in prison.

Sentencing

Carol Hatley was sentenced to 22 years in prison on April 24, 2013.

Other details

• Maricopa County prosecutors said the victim was in the process of being dismembered when officers arrived on the scene last July 30.
• Police said Carol Hatley and her mother had a tumultuous relationship, with a history of domestic incidents.
• Police said there were no signs of forced entry.
• Carol Hatley was described as not appearing to have any criminal history in Arizona, according to court records.
• The victim lived at the home since 1972 and was described as the original homeowner.