Bobby Benitez, 64, has been charged with the murder of Patti Nosy, 42, but he remains hospitalized with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Suspect still in hospital
John Johnson
john johnson news@gmail.com
Thatcher – Bobby Benitez, 64, has been charged with killing Patti Sue Nosy, 42, but he remains hospitalized with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Nosie was murdered at her residence at 1510 S. Roadrunner Ln on December 13th. at Quail Ridge where she lived with Benitez. She was found dead in her residence after a standoff between Benitez and officers ended with Benitez shooting herself, her death attributed to a gunshot wound.
The Thatcher Police Department report said Norsey appeared to have been shot multiple times, with one gunshot wound to his left wrist, three to his chest, and one to his back. She also looked like her jaw had been broken. The next day, her Norsey body was sent to the Pima County coroner’s office for an autopsy.
Benitez’s injuries were not life-threatening and he was taken to Mount Graham Regional Medical Center for treatment. As of Friday, December 23, Benitez remained in hospital custody. Upon release from the hospital, he will be formally admitted to Graham County Adult Care Facility.
At 4:53 am on Tuesday, December 13, the Graham County Dispatch received a call from a man saying, “I killed someone, please send the police to kill me.” The call was later found to have been made by Benitez.
Officers from Thatcher Police Department and Safford Police Department joined deputies in the Graham County Sheriff’s Office to respond to the residence and attempted to negotiate with Benitez, who appeared distraught about what had happened. reports that Benitez “shoot me”, “I killed her. My life is over, she’s driving me crazy.”
Benitez spoke with officers while in the doorway of the residence and was convinced at one point to leave the handgun inside the house. When an officer asked Benitez if he would sit in a chair on the porch, he did. However, when asked if he would close the door, Benitez refused, and after a few minutes his demeanor appeared to change as he got up and started moving towards the front door.
At that point, an officer from Safford attempted to use a taser, but one probe did not connect, rendering it ineffective and the officer returned to staging, so Benitez returned to his residence.
Approximately five to ten minutes later, Benitez reappeared from his residence, but did not appear to be armed. He raised his hands to show the officer that there was nothing in his waistband.
According to Safford and Thatcher’s police report, Benitez, who had a second conversation with an officer, pulled a pistol from his back pocket, pointed it at his chest, and shot himself, saying, “I’m done.” rice field.
Benitez was then taken into custody, treated at the scene by Lifeline Ambulance paramedics, and transferred to Mount Graham Regional Medical Center.
After Benitez was taken into custody, officers cleared the residence and found Norsey’s body. A search warrant was later approved by Magistrate Wyatt J. Palmer, and officers collected various used ammunition cases, handguns, and other evidence.
While in the hospital, Benitez allegedly told a doctor that he shot Norsey because “she was driving him crazy.” But when investigators read out his Miranda warning, Benitez exercised his right to remain silent and asked to consult a lawyer. Investigators reported that they then left Benitez in the care of a hospital and another police officer.
