A major child murder trial in Maricopa County screeched to a halt on Wednesday, after a judge abruptly suspended proceedings to dig into alleged systemic problems with the Goodyear Police Department’s evidence handling. The trial, which had been underway for about six months, centers on the 2017 death of 7-year-old Sanaa Cunningham and the prosecution of former Phoenix officer Germayne Cunningham and his wife, Lisa. The pause came after prosecutors turned over thousands of pages of documents that defense lawyers say suddenly raised new questions about the chain of custody for key evidence.
Ruling from the bench, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Patricia Starr ordered an evidentiary hearing so the court can assess how far the problems inside Goodyear’s evidence unit go and whether they undercut the state’s case. Internal department records obtained by investigators describe evidence-tracking software that creates “phantom” date and time entries, and property-room workers who acknowledged sometimes changing dates without independently confirming they were correct. Defense attorneys told the court they were blindsided by the late disclosures and accused police and prosecutors of keeping critical information out of view, while the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office denied any intentional suppression, according to ABC15.
The criminal case reaches back to 2017 and focuses on allegations that Sanaa was abused and left to die. The Cunninghams were indicted years later, and their trial began in September 2025. Hoodline’s previous coverage traced the early courtroom battle lines, detailing the case history and the grim allegations prosecutors presented in the opening weeks of trial.
During the current proceedings, prosecutors have introduced graphic material including photos, text messages and medical records that they say show prolonged neglect, the use of restraints and untreated wounds that led to septic shock. Past reporting in Phoenix New Times has laid out those accusations and the disputed medical findings that have fueled both the indictment and intense courtroom clashes over what actually caused Sanaa’s death.
What Happens Next
From the bench, Judge Starr made clear that the stakes for the evidentiary hearing are enormous. Depending on what the inquiry exposes, she said she could declare a mistrial or even dismiss the case entirely. The court has not yet set a date for the hearing. Prosecutors and defense attorneys are expected back in court next week to hammer out a schedule, and lawyers have already warned the judge that a multi-day hearing would likely put detectives and evidence-room staff on the stand. Those anticipated steps were spelled out in the recent disclosures and discussed in open court on Wednesday, according to ABC15.
Legal experts say the situation is a textbook example of how technical failures in an evidence room can spill far beyond a single file number, potentially unraveling years of investigative work and forcing judges into difficult choices between public safety and defendants’ constitutional rights. Earlier in the case, Hoodline tracked how a series of pretrial fights over records and shifting penalty exposure repeatedly reshaped the Cunninghams’ path to trial.
For now jurors, attorneys and Sanaa’s relatives are stuck in limbo, waiting for the court to set the evidentiary hearing and decide whether this high-profile Phoenix trial will resume at all. We will continue to monitor filings and court calendars for the hearing date and any changes to the trial schedule.
