SUN LAKES, Ariz. — It was a gruesome murder that shocked the south Valley — 42-year-old Tonya Harper died after she was stabbed in the neck back in 2019 according to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office.
The suspect charged for her death was Harper's own nephew, Ares Adle, who was 14-years-old at the time. He was charged with first degree murder.
On Tuesday, more than five years after Harper's death, Adle sat in front of jury for the start of his trial as the prosecution explained what happened the night of the murder.
The first witness called to testify was Harper's sister Latrice Ciricillo who is also Adle's mother. She said Harper and several other family members came into town for a family reunion and were staying at her house.
"We were playing games, Ares played guitar, " Ciricillo said. "We just did family things."
It was in the middle of the night when everyone was asleep when Ciricillo said she was woken up by her sister bleeding from her neck and screaming for help.
"Tonya identified her killer with what would have been her last words, 'I think it was Ares,'" said the lead prosecutor.
Attorneys claimed Adle waited until everyone was asleep when he allegedly grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed his aunt in the neck so hard it cut through several layers of muscle. Prosecutors also alleged Adle took measures to prevent Harper or other family members from calling police by cutting the phone lines in the home.
"He took the time to wait for the perfect opportunity," the prosecutor said.
The 14-year-old suspect was arrested shortly after MCSO arrived at the scene. The prosecution said investigators found the knife believed to be used in the murder hidden in Adle's closet. However, the prosecution said they don't know the motive behind this murder and likely never will. Which Adle's attorney is using as a defense tactic in this trial.
The defense says the suspect saw his aunt as a mentor and best friend. They don't deny or argue that Adle killed Harper and they even anticipate the jury will find him guilty. Still, they argue it should be for a lesser charge than what Adle is currently facing.
"You will realize that the verdict for first degree premeditated murder is not guilty, but you will have other options and we'll address that," the defense attorney said.
The trial will resume Wednesday morning.
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