Connie Villa

Case details

Connie Villa was charged in connection with the death of her 13-year-old daughter and attempts to kill three younger children and her ex-husband. Authorities alleged that she attacked and stabbed her ex-husband, poisoned her daughter, and attempted to kill her three other children and herself on Christmas day.

Connie Villa remained jailed without bond awaiting trial and was held in the county jail in Florence.

People

• Connie Villa (35) — mother accused of first-degree murder in the death of her daughter and accused of attempted murder regarding her three younger children and her ex-husband.
• Aniarael Macias (13) — Connie Villa’s daughter; her body was found in the bathroom of the family’s apartment.
• Adam Villa (33) — Connie Villa’s ex-husband; he was the biological father of the three younger children; he called 911 after fleeing the apartment.
• Michael Macias — father of Aniarael Macias; he issued a statement through family.

Children mentioned

• Child age 3
• Child age 5
• Child age 8 All three were described as the younger children; authorities said they were placed with Adam Villa’s father’s family after evaluation.

Timeline

• December 27, 2013 — Police investigated the death of Aniarael Macias after her body was found in the bathroom of her family’s apartment; a 911 call was made by Adam Villa reporting that Connie Villa stabbed him and he was driving to Casa Grande Regional Medical Center.
• December 28, 2013 — Connie Villa was arrested after being released from a hospital on suspicion of one count of first-degree murder and four counts of attempted murder in connection with the Christmas day attack.
• December 29, 2013 — Police said Connie Villa was accused of murdering Aniarael Macias, attempting to poison her three other children, and stabbing Adam Villa on Christmas day.
• December 31, 2013 — Reporting continued on the case, including statements about the alleged suffocation and poisoning.
• January 15, 2014 — Connie Villa entered a plea of not guilty when arraigned in Pinal County Superior Court and remained jailed without bond.

Background

Police described the incident as a domestic dispute. Neighbors reported being shocked and said they did not hear sounds coming from the apartment Christmas night, but they heard ambulances and fire trucks around 9 p.m.

In 2006, Adam Villa returned from a one-year deployment to Iraq with the Arizona Army National Guard. When he stepped off the plane upon his return, Connie Villa broke into tears, saying: “Just to know he's safe and in one piece, just to smell him,” and “I just want to be normal again and have a family.”

The offence

Death of the 13-year-old daughter

Authorities suspected that Connie Villa suffocated her 13-year-old daughter with her bare hands. Her daughter, Aniarael Macias, was found dead in the bathroom of the family’s apartment.

Police said initial observations included that the 13-year-old did not have any apparent injuries and that the cause of death was not immediately known. An autopsy conducted by the Pima County Medical Examiner’s Office did not identify a cause of death, and investigators were awaiting toxicology reports for Aniarael Macias.

Attempted murder of three younger children

Authorities said Connie Villa forced her three younger children—ages 3, 5, and 8—to take prescription narcotic drugs at their apartment on Christmas day. Police said initial tests found trace amounts of opiates in the children’s systems and that they were in good condition.

The types of drugs were not released to the public at the time; authorities said they were awaiting toxicology results that could take up to three weeks.

Stabbing of the ex-husband

Authorities said Connie Villa attacked and stabbed her ex-husband, Adam Villa, repeatedly in the upper torso. After he was stabbed, Adam Villa escaped and called 911 while driving to Casa Grande Regional Medical Center.

Responding officers had to force their way into the home and found Connie Villa with apparent stab wounds to her upper torso. Police said she was holding a knife to her chest and had the three younger children at her side.

Investigation

Police found that Connie Villa tried to kill the three other children by forcing them to take prescription narcotics. Investigators also believed that evidence at the scene, interviews, and medical information of the surviving children supported the view that Connie Villa was trying to kill all of her children and her ex-husband.

Officer Thomas Anderson, a Casa Grande Police Department spokesman, discussed observations that included:

• Authorities found the body of Aniarael Macias lying on a bathroom floor.
• Police said the 13-year-old body had no visible signs of injury or trauma.
• Police said an autopsy report was inconclusive on the cause of death.
• Initial tests showed trace amounts of opiates in the surviving children’s systems.

Authorities said the investigation was ongoing and additional charges were possible.

“He was lured to the apartment, under what pretense we don't know yet, but we don't have any indication he had any fear of going over there,” Officer Thomas Anderson said.

An autopsy had been conducted by the Pima County Medical Examiner’s Office, which did not identify a cause of death for Aniarael Macias.

Arrest and custody

Connie Villa was arrested Sunday morning after being released from the medical center where she was being treated. She remained in custody at the Pinal County Adult Detention Facility.

Trial / plea

Connie Villa entered a plea of not guilty at her arraignment in Pinal County Superior Court on January 15, 2014. She remained jailed without bond while awaiting trial.

Other details

Stated motive

Police said Connie Villa told detectives she wanted to prevent her ex-husband, Adam Villa, from getting custody of all of her kids. Police also said she wanted to kill her children because she did not want her ex-husband to have custody of them.

Medical and placement information

Police said both Connie Villa and Adam Villa were flown to separate Phoenix area hospitals for treatment after officers found them in the apartment and responded to the domestic dispute call.

Child Protective Services placed the surviving children with Adam Villa’s father’s family, and authorities said the three children were in good condition.

Statements from family

A statement was issued on behalf of Michael Macias.

“We request that the focus of this tragedy be a celebration of our precious Ania’s life. She was a gentle, kind and beautiful spirit who was taken from us much too soon. Michael and his family are heartbroken. Ania was always smiling. She loved her brothers and sisters.”

A further statement was issued:

“On behalf of Michael Macias, Ania’s father, Vera Macias, Ania’s grandmother and extended family, we request that the focus of this tragedy be a celebration of our precious Ania’s life. She was a gentle, kind and beautiful spirit who was taken from us much too soon. Michael and his family are heartbroken. Ania was always smiling. She loved her brothers and sisters. She enjoyed spending time with her father and sister Gaby. We are writing this statement in hopes that the media and other outlets will allow Michael and our family to grieve peacefully. We thank everyone for the outpouring of support for our family. We appreciate your prayers and positive thoughts. We pray that justice will be served.”

Prosecutors and charges

The County Attorney’s Office said prosecutors were prepared to file the necessary documents and present evidence necessary for the court to hold Villa in custody until the investigation was complete and formal charges were filed.

Connie Villa faced charges including:

• one count of first-degree murder in the death of her 13-year-old daughter
• four counts of attempted murder involving her three younger children and her ex-husband