More than a year after a man was found dead in a Mesa alley, police have released new surveillance photos and video that show a hooded person walking away from the scene. The victim, 47-year-old Jerry Dietch, was found with what investigators describe as obvious signs of trauma consistent with a stabbing. The footage, captured near Broadway Road and Mesa Drive, shows a person in a light-colored hoodie and dark pants moving among parked cars before running off, and detectives are again turning to the public for help.
As reported by FOX 10 Phoenix, Mesa police released the images on Thursday as part of an active homicide investigation. According to the station, leads have been limited since the May 12, 2025, discovery, and detectives are hoping the video release might jog the memory of someone who was in the area that morning. Police did not announce any arrests tied to the case in their public update.
What Police Released
The short surveillance clip and still images show a hooded figure in a light-colored sweatshirt, dark pants and dark shoes casually pacing around several parked vehicles before suddenly sprinting away, according to Arizona's Family. Investigators say the person is seen leaving the alley near where Dietch was later found. Police provided the footage to local media in hopes that the person’s posture, clothing or distinctive way of walking might be enough for someone to recognize them.
Timeline And Victim
Mesa officers responded shortly before 6:30 a.m. on May 12, 2025, after getting reports of a body in an alley near Broadway Road and Mesa Drive, where Dietch was pronounced dead at the scene, ABC15 reports. Early statements from the department and local coverage noted that his injuries showed obvious signs of trauma. Homicide detectives have been working the case since last year but have not publicly identified any suspects.
How To Help
Mesa police are asking anyone with information, no matter how minor it may seem, to call the department at 480-644-2211 or submit an anonymous tip through Silent Witness. The Silent Witness helplines for the metro Phoenix area are 480-WITNESS (480-948-6377) and 480-TESTIGO (480-837-8446), and tips can also be filed online through Silent Witness. Investigators say even a detail like a remembered jacket, a specific pair of shoes or a vehicle seen leaving the alley could help move the case forward.
Case Status
The Mesa Police Department says the investigation remains active and that detectives are continuing to follow leads generated by public tips, according to FOX 10 Phoenix. No arrests have been announced, and authorities say they will update the public if significant new information emerges. Police are also asking anyone with security footage from the Broadway Road corridor or nearby businesses to review their cameras from around the time of the homicide and contact detectives if they see anything that could be connected.
