PHOENIX (AZFamily) — A report from the medical examiner is providing new details on how a pregnant teen was killed at a Phoenix park last summer.
The newly released report revealed that 16-year-old Zariah Dodd died from a gunshot wound to the head.
Her body was found on July 5, 2025, at Marivue Park near 57th Avenue and Osborn Road. Dodd was 22 weeks pregnant at the time of her death.
Police say 36-year-old Jurrell Davis, who they believe was the father of her unborn child, and 18-year-old Jechri James-Gillett are both facing two counts of first-degree murder in Dodd’s and the unborn baby’s death. Davis is also facing an additional charge of sexual conduct with a minor.
Zariah Dodd was 22 weeks pregnant at the time of her death.(Arizona’s Family)
Surprise Police reported that Dodd left her group home with a man on July 4 and didn’t return. Court records say she texted that they were “driving in circles” and that she was scared. Her phone was turned off around 2:30 a.m., then later pinged near 33rd Avenue and Bell Road, close to Davis’ home.
Court paperwork states that James-Gillett made a “full confession to the murder of Zariah,” claiming that Davis had ordered him to shoot Dodd or Davis would kill them both. James-Gillett reportedly said he “wished he could take it back.”
Davis continued to deny being involved, but when confronted with evidence, investigators say he admitted to picking up Dodd and James-Gillett and dropping them off at the park. According to court paperwork, he left and then went back after getting a call from James-Gillett that he killed Dodd. Davis denies that he “ordered” her death.
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