Zariah Dodd: Arrests made in pregnant teen's murder, including unborn baby's father
Suspects conspired in pregnant girl's death: PD
Two men were booked on charges of murder, but we've now confirmed that one of the suspects is the father of the murder victim's unborn baby. FOX 10's Justin Lum reports.
PHOENIX - Two suspects have been arrested in the murder of a pregnant teenager whose body was found at a Phoenix park.
Police say 36-year-old Jurrell Davis and 18-year-old Jechri James-Gillett conspired in Zariah Dodd's murder.
What we know:
On the night of July 4, Dodd left Sunshine Residential, a group home in Surprise, around 8 p.m. She was reported missing as a runaway to police four hours later. She was found dead with a gunshot wound at Marivue Park in Phoenix around 6 a.m. the next morning.
"The investigation established that Davis was the father Zariah’s unborn child. It also showed that the two suspects conspired to commit and carried out the homicide," Sgt. Rob Scherer said.
Both suspects were booked into jail and are accused of murder. Davis is also accused of sexual misconduct with a minor.
What they're saying:
Zariah's father, Sylquayn Bernard, reacted to news of the arrests and the fact that Davis impregnated 16-year-old Zariah.
"Honestly, disgust. I mean, he's 36, 30 whatever, it's traumatizing," Bernard said. "But I'm happy that they did find the people who did this. That was my main objective there as far as the investigation, how it was put out there. A lot of mixed emotions. I do want to follow this. I want to stay on top of it to continue to get more justice for my daughter and my granddaughter."
Jechri was located in Goodyear.
Phoenix Police initially described the victim in the fatal shooting as a woman in her 20s. It took nearly a month for officials to release Zariah's name and her actual age of 16.
"There are some cases like this where we're gonna hold a lot of information back and it's to protect that investigation, because again, we're looking along with homicide and any investigation for that matter, we're looking at that prosecution angle, and we don't wanna necessarily do anything to impact that investigation," said Sgt. Rob Scherer of the Phoenix Police.
Zariah Dodd case: Father of murdered pregnant teen believes she was 'dumped' at Phoenix park
It's been nearly a month since a pregnant teen was murdered and abandoned in a Phoenix park. The father of the victim, Zariah Dodd, speaks to FOX 10 Investigator Justin Lum as no arrest has been made.
Dig deeper:
Davis is a prohibited possessor after pleading guilty to child abuse in 2008 for impregnating a 14-year-old when he was 19 at the time. He's been behind bars since July 15 after Phoenix Police arrested him in connection to a missing 17-year-old girl out of Glendale. That girl's mother, Adrianne Morris, filed an order of protection against him last August and has been trying ever since to get Davis off the streets.
When police executed a search warrant on his car, they found him with the girl and recovered a gun. Police say Davis claimed the gun was owned by a friend of a friend known as "Jechri."
Morris spoke at his court hearing for the gun charge. Her daughter became close to Davis in June 2024.
"I later found out he had been in my home, picking up my daughter in the middle of the night, making very high demands, grooming her," Morris said. "Grooming her to the point that even Phoenix PD said that my daughter was going to need extensive help and therapy. He was on her 24 hours a day. When she could eat, when she could shower, where she could go."
Morris' daughter is safe, but traumatized. Zariah and her unborn daughter are dead.
"You deserve what you got and what you're gonna get and hopefully there's a place for you," Bernard said.
Vigil held for Dodd at Marivue Park
On Friday at 7 p.m., a vigil for Dodd was held at Marivue Park, where Zariah was found dead. Loved ones celebrated her life and encouraged people to wear purple, blue, or pink in her honor.
Balloons, candles, shirts and signs – all in memory of Dodd and her unborn daughter.
"The most important thing is to know that it's she was a child who was failed at many times in the system," said Richilyn Fox, Dodd's kinship caregiver.
Fox says Dodd went through ore in her short life than most people ever do.
"She endured a lot of things before she came to me. I think over twenty-something homes before she came to me in 2022. But she still had so much love to give."
Fox added, "She had this shy little side. She was very innocent. It was like some things that she should have know, but she didn't know."
Vigil held for Zariah Dodd in Phoenix
Loved ones gathered to celebrate Zariah Dodd's life with a vigil at Marivue Park near 55th Ave. and Osborn Rd. in West Phoenix. FOX 10's Taylor Wirtz reports.
She thinks it was that desire to be loved back that hurt her most.
"And foster care. You're looking for love. You're looking for a family to say, I love you and I want you.. the whole message about Zariah is that this was all a story of her looking for love."
Pink was one of the main choices of color during the vigil. Everyone who knew Zariah and loved her was there to raise awareness for a life taken too soon, and to raise awareness for a system that they say failed her.
Though it won't bring her back with Davis and James-Gillett facing murder charges, Dodd's family and friends say they finally feel like she is getting her justice.
"It hurts me that a man like that will take control of a vulnerable child like that," said Fox. "And so today, justice was served and it couldn't come at any better time because tonight's hope is the one tomorrow. So she went down with the justice that she needed."
What's next:
Davis and James-Gillett are set to appear in court on charges for Zariah Dodd's murder at some point. We will continue to bring you developments.
Her funeral is scheduled for 11 a.m. Aug. 2 at Greater Hope Christian Church.
Map of Marivue Park