TEMPE, ARIZONA: The discovery of 18-year-old Parker League's burned body in a remote area near Apache Junction, Arizona, has shocked investigators and left his family devastated. League, who hailed from Nebraska, was reported missing on June 15 by his father while visiting Tempe, Arizona.
However, it was discovered that his body had been found smoldering in a makeshift bonfire pit near Lost Dutchman State Park three days earlier, on June 12. The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office has classified League's death as a "malicious" act and is treating it as a homicide. After weeks of investigation, surveillance footage played a crucial role in locating and apprehending the suspect, 37-year-old Anthonie Ruinard.
Who is Anthonie Ruinard?
Ruinard, who was arrested on Wednesday, July 5 is expected to face charges of first-degree murder in connection with League's death, according to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office. League had traveled to Arizona on June 9 to visit friends, but contact with him was lost, and he was scheduled to return home on June 13, the same day his body was discovered.
Officials revealed that League was last seen alive with Ruinard at a gas station in the Phoenix suburb of Chandler on June 11. However, his family only reported him missing three days later, as they were unaware of the discovery. Investigators discovered that someone had attempted to use League's debit card to make purchases and pay an electric bill after his last sighting. Video footage from the locations where the card was used played a crucial role in the investigation.
'The nicest kid in the world!'
A search warrant was obtained, and forensic evidence linking Ruinard to League was reportedly found in the trunk of his car. The motive behind the crime remains unclear, but League's brother, Hunter, suggested that his brother may have been targeted due to carrying an expensive watch during his vacation. "I knew he had a place to stay; I knew he got there. We texted... that's about it," Hunter said.
Hunter, who considered League his best friend, expressed his difficulty in accepting the tragic loss, describing League as "the nicest kid in the world." The emotional impact of League's death on their father was profound, with Hunter recounting his dad's heartbreaking reaction upon learning the news. "I got a call from my dad telling me to come home," Hunter said. "I asked him 'why' about three times and the third time he tried to explain it, he just started breaking down."
Bulldog Canyon, the area where League's body was discovered, has reportedly experienced an increase in criminal activities, including thefts, according to campers in the area. In addition to the suspected murder charge, Ruinard is facing allegations of abandonment/concealment of dead body parts, drug charges, credit card theft, and possession of a weapon by a prohibited person. He is currently being held on a $2 million bond.
