Man charged in death of homeless woman
A 49-year-old man is facing murder charges in connection with the death of a woman found Tuesday night in the Pantano Wash.
Pima County Sheriff's Department deputies detained and later arrested Michael Donald Norris on suspicion of first-degree murder.
Debra Ann Scotko, 51, a homeless woman who frequented the area, was found dead around 5 p.m. in the wash near the 6400 block of East Grant Road, said Deputy Tom Peine, an agency spokesman.
Scotko was discovered by Tucson police officers responding to a 911 call about a woman in distress, Peine said.
The wash is in the county's jurisdiction and deputies and officers searched the area for a man who was believed to be involved with the woman's death. Norris was found a short time later and taken into custody.
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Man admits stabbing his father to death
A 35-year-old Pima County man is facing between seven and 21 years in prison after he admitted Wednesday he stabbed his father to death three years ago.
Brian Gene Harmon got into a fight with his 56-year-old father, Phillip Harmon, on Jan. 1, 2010.
The younger man hit his father with a golf club and when it broke, stabbed him in the abdomen with it, Assistant Pima County Public Defender John O'Brien told Superior Court Judge Paul Tang.
At the time of Harmon's arrest, Pima County sheriff's officials said Harmon fled the scene but was taken into custody after returning to the home near West Pima Mine Road and South Mission Road. Harmon, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter, will be sentenced March 4 in Pima County Superior Court.
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Suspect dies after walking into traffic
A 19-year-old man was killed Wednesday morning when he stepped into traffic and was struck by a truck on North Swan Road, near East Sunrise Drive, authorities said.
The pedestrian, Dimitri Thomas Makansi, was pronounced dead at the scene, said Deputy Tom Peine, a Pima County Sheriff's Department spokesman.
Makansi was a suspect in a criminal investigation, Peine said, adding that he could not comment further.
Witnesses told investigators that Makansi stepped into the road in front of the truck, Peine said. He said investigators concluded Makansi intentionally stepped into traffic.
The driver of the truck tried to avoid striking him, Peine said. The driver, age 60, remained at the scene and was not cited.
Investigators determined the driver was not at fault, Peine said.
Callers to 911 reported the incident at 10:15 a.m.
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