MESA, Ariz. — A husband and wife have been arrested in connection to a December homicide in Mesa, according to officials with the Mesa Police Department.
In a news release, police said Heath Daniel, 33, and Vanessa Daniel, 37, are facing charges following the shooting of 31-year-old Jose Olvera Ramirez. The man's body was found in the roadway on 8th Avenue on Dec. 28.
Police said both were arrested on Dec. 30.
Heath Daniel has been charged with first-degree murder and prohibited possessor.
Vanessa Daniel has been charged with hindering prosecution and evidence tampering.
Following the shooting, police said investigators obtained security video from a convenience store near 8th Avenue and Country Club Drive. In the video, investigators saw Ramirez interacting with someone in a white passenger car with identifiable damage to its bumper. The individual was wearing a dark hat with “NY” on it. The car was eventually traced back to Heath Daniel.
Cell phone records allegedly showed Heath Daniel was in the area at the time Ramirez was killed, according to police.
Police said on Dec. 30, 2022, several search warrants were served at locations associated to Heath Daniel. At his house, the hat was allegedly found along with an empty gun box for a .45 caliber pistol. The vehicle was found at the home of a relative, as were .45 caliber cartridges. The suspects had allegedly asked the relatives to hold on to the items, according to police.
In the car, investigators found both fired and unfired .45 caliber cartridges, according to police.
While serving the search warrants, officers found out Daniel had left the area in a separate vehicle, according to police. Daniel and his wife were found traveling toward Tucson on I-10. They were taken into custody by police with assistance from DPS.
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