A man accused of killing three people at a south Phoenix apartment last week was given a $5 million cash-only bond at his initial appearance following his arrest on Friday.
Phoenix police announced on Friday that officers arrested 30-year-old Chase Christman after physical and digital evidence linked him to the incident but did not elaborate on what that evidence was.
Police said the homicides occurred on July 14 and a fire was set on the morning of July 15 prompting firefighters to respond to the apartment complex near South 48th Street and South Wakial Loop on where they found three bodies with injuries unrelated to the fire. Police identified the victims as Merissa Honeycutt, 27, Anthony Frederickson-Ceccarelli, 25, and Samuel Lott, 37 who all had previous interactions with Christman.
Sgt. Robert Scherer, a department spokesperson, said police arrested Christman on July 19. Scherer said Christman told police he had been to the apartment but didn't admit to killing the three found dead.
Christman was booked into jail on three counts of second-degree murder and one count of misconduct involving weapons.
Scherer added that investigators believe Christman is the only suspect behind the killings.
During Christman's initial appearance, prosecutor Vince Imbordino requested for Christman to be held on a $5 million cash-only bond based on the severity of the charges, having at least three prior felony convictions and having absconded from parole while in California.
During the initial appearance, someone saying they represented Frederickson-Ceccarelli's family
"This has been the worst week of our lives," the person said. "And we understand it's only the start of what's to come. Our life's never going to be the same and we beg and we plead you not to let this person out on the streets at any amount so there's a chance that this could happen to any other family out there."
Another man who identified himself as Frederickson-Ceccarelli's oldest brother lambasted prosecutors for requesting anything but having Christman be held without bond.
"I gotta say I'm absolutely disgusted in the State's to put $5 million on the death of my brother and two others," the man said.
A man identifying himself as the oldest brother of Lott, didn't share similar criticisms of prosecutors but echoed the plea to ensure Christman be held without bond.
The court commissioner told the family members he understood what they were going through and explained that certain conditions needed to be met for someone to be found non-bondable but found there was enough probable cause to grant the $5 million cash-only bond.
His next court appearance is scheduled for Thursday at 8:30 a.m. in Maricopa County Superior Court.
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