TONOPAH, AZ (KNXV/CNN) - A 21-year-old man and his teen girlfriend are accused of killing her father. Arizona authorities say 59-year-old John Norton was fatally shot on Monday by Daniel Stroh.
The two reportedly confessed to the crime while being interviewed by deputies. Stroh appeared in court on Tuesday, facing numerous charges, including first degree murder.
And at his first court appearance on Tuesday on charges that include first degree murder, he didn’t say much.
But back at the crime scene, Buckeye Road is quiet. There are not many cars traveling during the day, and even less foot traffic.
But newly-released court paperwork backs up what neighbors have been saying about what happened after Norton's death. “They were kind of running and their dogs were following them and I said that was unusual because they're never out like that,” one neighbor said.
According to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office that was in fact, the first chapter in the case. It's followed by a 911 call made by Norton's daughter.
According to court paperwork, the 15-year-old told dispatch that she watched an old boyfriend kill her father nearly three hours ago. "It's just super shocking and sad,” a neighbor said.
As the day progressed detectives grew weary of the girl's story. Their suspicions continued to grow when they received another phone call. It was from Stroh's grandmother who said her grandson was at the scene of the murder.
During an interview with detectives, Stroh admits the 15-year-old is his girlfriend and gave him a gun days earlier and ordered him to kill her father because the man didn't approve of their relationship. "He made threats for him to stay away and he didn't want that boy no where near over there,” a neighbor said.
The daughter interviewed with detectives after Stroh's confession and eventually caves herself. "Even if you have an inkling that things might not be all right and correct, you don't think it would get to that point,” a neighbor said.
Stroh is in jail on first degree murder and conspiracy charges. The teen girl is also booked on conspiracy to commit murder.
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