PIMA COUNTY, Ariz. — A Pima County man wanted for questioning in connection to the death of his 4-year-old daughter back in March has been arrested after months on the run, according to authorities.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department said Nathan Aaron Peru, 30, was arrested on Aug. 29.
In addition to being wanted for questioning in connection to his child's death, Peru was also wanted on two counts of sexual conduct with a minor child, according to investigators.
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The investigation into Peru began on March 16 with the death of his daughter. Investigators said, “The child died under suspicious circumstances.”
At 7:20 a.m. on March 16, deputies were called out to a home in the area of Flowering Wells and Wetmore roads about a “medical emergency involving a 4-year-old child drowning,” investigators said.
Deputies attempted to use life-saving measures to help the little girl, who was unresponsive. Fire crews arrived soon after and took over for deputies. The little girl could not be saved and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to investigators.
Detectives with the Pima County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Unit were brought in to investigate the little girl’s death.
Through an investigation, detectives developed probable cause for the arrest of Peru.
Peru was able to escape deputies.
“Mr. Peru fled from law enforcement officers, stole a City of Tucson vehicle, and was able to avoid apprehension,” investigators said.
Five months later, Peru was tracked down and arrested.
The sheriff department said multiple agencies were involved in Peru’s arrest, including the PCSD Fugitive Investigations Unit, Criminal Interdiction Unit, Directed Patrol Central, K9 Unit, Traffic Unit, Pima Regional SWAT, and the PCSD Air Unit and the U.S. Marshal’s Service.
This is a developing story; additional details will be added when they become available.
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