Police arrested a 26-year-old man on allegations pertaining to the disappearance and murder of an 8-year-old Arizona girl, Isabella Grogan-Cannella, according to USA Today.
Investigators arrested Justin James Rector on first-degree murder and kidnapping counts, police announced today.
Police reportedly found a body in a shallow grave near the home of the missing Isabelle Grogan-Cannella and investigators confirmed today that the body was that of the child, according to a police spokeswoman.
Investigators reportedly first learned of Rector's potential involvement in the disappearance and death of Isabella from her 10-year-old sister, according to court documents. Rector was reportedly described as the boyfriend of the girls' mother.
The three were reportedly playing hide-and-seek with Rector on Monday. The older sister stated that she went to the bathroom during the game and when she returned, Rector and Isabella were gone, according to court records.
Investigators reportedly found Rector near a highway in Bullhead City at about 3a.m., according to court records. He was believed to have stolen a pair of shoes and other clothes from the Walmart and reportedly admitted to hiding his old belongings in the store, according to a police report.
Investigators reportedly found shoe prints near the crime scene that matched the shoes that Rector had left at the Walmart, according to court records. The shoes were easier to identify because they had duct tape covering a hole in one of the shoes, according to investigators.