A double homicide in Sun City has led to the arrest of 60-year-old Robert Alan McGrath, identified as the suspect responsible for the deaths of his estranged wife and her mother. FOX 10 Phoenix reported that the incident occurred early Tuesday morning and the suspect was taken into custody on June 25, the same day.
The initial call to Maricopa County Sheriff's Office was placed after neighbors heard a loud noise, prompting a welfare check on the second-story apartment, where they encountered a white male suspect brandishing a handgun. According to court documents referenced by FOX 10 Phoenix, the suspect threatened the neighbors with the weapon, forcing them to lay on the ground and confiscating one of their cellphones.
Upon deputies' arrival at the scene, they found the apartment's front door appeared forced open and inside, two gunshot victims were discovered. Thea Merlino, 77, was found dead, and her daughter, 53-year-old Marcia McGrath, was located injured but able to communicate valuable information regarding the suspect. Marcia McGrath identified her ex-husband, Robert McGrath, as the shooter, noting their recent divorce and providing his address and the vehicle he was driving. She later died at a hospital from her injuries, as reported by AZFamily.
Neighbors, who spoke with FOX 10 Phoenix, described the suspect as troublesome and Marcia McGrath as friendly. Recalling an instance involving loose dogs, one neighbor revealed "he just opened the door and started shooting a gun." These accounts paint a disturbing picture of the suspect's behavior prior to the murders.
Robert McGrath is now facing several charges, including two counts of premeditated first-degree murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, kidnapping, armed robbery, and burglary. Court paperwork revealed by AZFamily points to a history of threats, noting that Marcia McGrath had reported to police weeks prior that Robert had threatened her life, further complicating the narrative of whether this tragic event could have been anticipated or prevented. Sheriff Russ Skinner, in a statement obtained by AZFamily, praised the community's swift action in reporting the incident and deputies for their immediate response and apprehension of McGrath, who remains in custody on a $2 million cash-only bond. His preliminary hearing is set for July 5.
