An Arizona man has been arrested after police found a significantly burned body believed to be a 21-year-old mother who was reported missing this week.
Police said the body, tentatively identified as Jasmine Dunbar, was found on Wednesday afternoon in a field near 107th Avenue and Camelback Road in Phoenix.
According to court records, officers went to Ware’s home at around 3:30 a.m. on Wednesday after Dunbar was reported missing. Initially, he told police he had picked up the mother and daughter on Tuesday evening but dropped her back off at the apartment after they had a disagreement.
Ware then drove away with the 7-month-old still in the car but panicked and dropped the baby in another area so that someone would find the infant and take care of her, court documents read.
Police allege that Ware returned to the field where he left Dunbar and found her dead. He then placed a piece of paper on her body, poured gasoline over her and lit her on fire with a cigarette. Ware then stayed to watch the body burn until the flames stopped, reported the news station, citing court documents.
Police believe Ware then returned to the location where he abandoned the baby but noticed that police were already with the baby. He then fled in another direction in order to avoid the police.
The 20-year-old was booked into Maricopa County jail on Thursday, March 8, on suspicion of first-degree murder and several other charges including abandoning a body and child abuse.
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