John Johnson Photo/Gila Herald: Amber Langley was brought before a magistrate’s court last Wednesday for a preliminary trial on fraud charges. An indictment was filed against her on January 1.

Prosecutors say Amber Langley killed daughter execution style

John Johnson

john johnson news@gmail.com

Graham County – The mother of a 14-year-old with autism who was shot dead in the desert southeast of Safford has been charged with murder.

Amber Langley, 38, has been charged with first-degree murder. She is bound by a $2 million bond. Her attorney is Denise McCarthy, who has also represented Langley in theft and fraud charges.

Amber Langley shot her daughter, Cadence Langley, 14, execution-style in the back of the head, leaving her partially submerged in a box near the enclosure on Artesia Road, about eight miles east of the highway. Accused of dumping the corpse in a soaked bag. 191. Cadence was discovered by quail hunters on October 26, 2020, but was not identified until extensive DNA and genealogical research was completed.

Amber Langley was arrested on August 24 on charges of related theft and fraudulent schemes and deceptions. A DNA profile from her Cadance produced by a California lab and her FBI was used by Innovated Forensic Investigations, which performs genealogy studies using her DNA profile of family members. According to that investigation, Cadence was the daughter of Amber Langley.

Amber was initially arrested on fraud and theft charges because she continued to receive government support for Cadence until recently after her body was found. According to the court testimony of Sergeant Graham County. According to Mark Smith, Amber received federal assistance totaling more than $4,700 for Cadence after his body was found, with regular payments until he was taken into custody.

On June 7, 2022, an FBI agent called Amber for a “reconfirmation interview” and Amber said that Cadence was fine and living with Amber’s mother in Springfield, Oregon, but that she had actually died. claimed to have lived in Graham County.

As far as motives go, investigators believe Amber could no longer stand dealing with her autistic daughter and felt she had no choice but to kill her.

After the murder, she told other family members that she sent Cadence to live at home or with another family.

Editor’s Note: This article has been updated to correct the spelling of Cadance Langely’s name from “Cadence”.