Arizona couple arrested over desert stabbing of homeless sex offender
Police say the pair, who had known the victim for months, selected the remote site to hide his body before his death was discovered Saturday.
By Chinedu Schneider ·
Residents of the Bullhead City area learned of a violent death in the desert this weekend when two local homeless individuals were taken into custody for the stabbing of a man they had known for several months. The incident has drawn attention to the relationship between sex offender notification systems and community members who live near or interact with those on the registry.
Jacob Dylan Middlebrook, 35, and Layne Justine McIntosh, 36, were arrested Saturday in connection with the death of Arron Christopher Warren, 29. Warren was identified as a registered Level 2 sex offender who was experiencing homelessness. Authorities reported that his body was found stabbed in a desert area along Silver Creek Road, roughly one mile east of Bullhead Parkway.
According to the Bullhead City Police Department, Middlebrook and McIntosh were also experiencing homelessness and had known Warren for the past few months. Police stated that the couple expressed a dislike for sex offenders. Investigators said the pair chose the desert location in advance with the intention of leaving Warren’s body there. They also measured furniture found along the roadside to determine if it could be large enough to conceal the body.
The arrests occurred hours after the body was discovered. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police officers located Warren’s stolen vehicle at a casino in Laughlin, Nevada. The couple was booked into the Clark County Detention Center and is awaiting extradition to Mohave County, where they are expected to face first-degree murder charges.
Bullhead City Police Chief Paul George addressed the circumstances in a written statement. He explained that the department shares information about Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders as a public service when they move into the area or change addresses. Required notifications are mailed to residents within approximately 1,000 feet of an offender’s registered address and are also posted on social media.
“Our goal is to provide information, not create fear or alarm. We believe an informed community is a safer community,” George said. “However, we want to be clear that we will not tolerate anyone using this information as a reason to threaten, intimidate, harass or harm another person.”
The department’s Bureau of Criminal Investigations conducts monthly address verification checks to ensure sex offenders comply with registration requirements. State law mandates notifications for Level 2 and Level 3 offenders, who are classified as more likely to reoffend than Level 1 offenders.
