GILBERT, Ariz. — A Gilbert group home murder case is concluding after almost four years.
After years of fighting in court, suspect Christopher Lambeth is prepared to take a plea deal.
This all started back on April 12, 2021, at the Tilda Manor group home in Gilbert, where Lambeth was accused of bludgeoning his housemate Steven Howells to death.
When police found Lambeth, he was washing away blood in the shower.
Police records show staff at the group home were locked out of the house when the murder likely occurred, despite needing to provide 24/7 supervision.
Lambeth was already convicted of murder in 2007 for killing his grandparents near Tucson.
He was found Guilty Except Insane and sentenced to 25 to life at the Arizona State Hospital for treatment. But the I-Team uncovered that a now-defunct state board approved his release to the community just 9 years later. He was eventually placed at Tilda Manor.
After Lambeth’s arrest in the group home murder, he was booked at the Lower Buckeye Jail. Once he was there, he was caught on camera beating up another inmate.
Although he rejected earlier offers for a plea deal, Lambeth ultimately changed his plea in court this week. He pleaded guilty to two charges: second-degree murder in the group home death and aggravated assault in the jail attack.
Throughout court proceedings, Lambeth expressed interest in trying to pursue a Guilty Except Insane defense or plea, which meant he could have been sentenced to the Arizona State Hospital. Instead, Lambeth agreed to 20 years in prison under the terms of the latest plea deal.
Lambeth is scheduled to be sentenced next month. The I-Team left a message for the attorney representing the victim's family and has not heard back.
The I-Team's continued reporting on this case exposed gaps in care when it comes to Arizona’s behavioral healthcare system. It also led to changes, like the Psychiatric Security Review Board dissolving in 2022 and Tilda Manor shutting down all five of its facilities in the East Valley.
The I-Team covered this case extensively in a 12-News podcast called Locked Inside. You can download that now on Apple or wherever you listen to podcasts.
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