Map: Man found dead
TONOPAH, Ariz. -- A Gilbert man is facing a charge of first-degree murder in the shooting death of his father at his father’s home in Tonopah.
According to court records, Tyler John McQuade, 24 shot Sean McQuade in the face with a shotgun Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012.
Maricopa County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene after the victim’s body was discovered by his brothers Monday, Jan. 23. The brothers said they followed a blood trail from the front door and found Sean McQuade's body "crumpled" on the floor nearby.
The brothers told detectives the front gate to the property was locked, but all of the doors to the home were open.
Homicide detectives found at least six expended shotgun shells around the home. One hit a large television and another hit a built-in wall shelf and a window shade. That suggests the victim was trying to get away from the gunman.
Investigators spoke with a family member who told them Tyler had made threats against the family in the past. They also learned of text messages which indicted someone suspected Tyler was responsible for his father’s murder.
Detectives contacted Tyler who told them he had not seen or spoken to his father since November of last year. That was apparently a lie, because detectives obtained cell phone records which showed Tyler was speaking to his father on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012. They also traced Tyler’s cell phone movement which showed it was pinged by cell towers near Tonopah. Detectives also discovered the last phone calls made by Sean were to his son Tyler and the last call he answered was from his son Tyler.
Detectives also talked to a friend of Sean who told them they were together Saturday, Jan. 21 when Sean got a phone call from Tyler saying that Tyler wanted to meet with Sean at Sean’s house. The friend said that this was very unusual, because Sean and Tyler rarely spoke, and Tyler did not regularly visit Sean at Sean’s house.
The friend also told investigators that Sean said he was reluctant to meet with Tyler and didn’t “feel good about it.”
After detectives took Tyler into custody he continued to deny having any recent contact with his father. He acknowledged the cell phone in question was his and that it was always in his possession. When told that records showed the cell phone was used to call his father and that the phone was in Tonopah the day of the murder Tyler still would not admit having any knowledge about Sean’s murder.
In court documents, detectives said Tyler did not show any emotion regarding the death of his father or over the fact that he was being accused of the murder.
Tyler McQuade is being held on a $500,000 secured appearance bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for February 3.
