A 33-year-old man was found dead, still strapped into a wheelchair, near a south Phoenix canal, and police say they already have a suspect in custody. Officers identified the victim as Aaron Goodyke and arrested 41-year-old Hector Corrales on suspicion of kidnapping and first-degree murder. The body was discovered near 24th Street and Fawn Drive, just south of Baseline Road, at a time when triple-digit temperatures made the area especially dangerous for anyone stuck outside and unable to move.
According to Phoenix police, officers were called to reports of trouble along the canal and found Goodyke in a wheelchair, with his hands and chest tied to the frame using plastic bags. Investigators say they reviewed police documents and video recordings before arresting Corrales. They also believe another man may have been involved, though that person has not been publicly identified or linked to any arrest. These details were reported by Arizona's Family.
Legal Outlook
Corrales was booked on suspicion of kidnapping and first-degree murder. Prosecutors still need to formally file charges before the case moves ahead in court. Under Arizona law (A.R.S. §13-1105), first-degree murder is a Class 1 felony that can carry a sentence of life in prison or, in some situations, the death penalty. Kidnapping is described in A.R.S. §13-1304 and can lead to separate, consecutive felony sentences if a defendant is convicted. For the statute text on first-degree murder, see Justia for A.R.S. 13-1105, and for kidnapping, see Justia for A.R.S. 13-1304.
Witness Accounts And The Scene
Two witnesses told detectives they saw Goodyke earlier that evening, appearing to be tied to the wheelchair and mumbling. Later, according to police documents, their daughter went back to the area and found him dead. Investigators say video evidence shows Corrales and another man restraining Goodyke with bags before the wheelchair tipped backward and Goodyke hit his head.
Corrales was taken into custody at his mother's home on an existing felony warrant for a parole violation, according to investigators. Officers collected his DNA and fingerprints before booking him into jail, and police say he declined to speak with detectives.
Goodyke's mother told police that her son had diabetes and had one leg amputated earlier this year. Investigators noted in police documents that those health issues likely increased his vulnerability in the conditions where he was found, as described in records reviewed by Arizona's Family.
Heat And Vulnerability
Local public-health officials regularly warn that people with chronic medical conditions, limited mobility, or spotty access to air conditioning are at higher risk when Phoenix summer temperatures soar. Maricopa County urges extra precautions for people with diabetes and other ongoing health concerns, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that extreme heat can quickly become life-threatening for vulnerable individuals. For guidance on heat risks and prevention tips, see Maricopa County Public Health and the CDC.
The Phoenix Police Department says the investigation is still active as detectives work to build a full timeline and search for additional evidence and witnesses. It remains unclear whether the second man referenced by investigators has been identified or arrested, and prosecutors have not yet announced any formal charges in the case.
