Issue 314, January 27 2025

74-Year-Old Ride-Hailing Driver Killed in Phoenix, Suspect Charged with Murder; Illegal Immigrant Admits Killing Woman

January 27, 2025

🕵️^{Trivia Question}

What is the potential consequence for an illegal immigrant convicted of murder in the U.S.?
Answer at the bottom of the newsletter

PODCAST: 20/20 | Explosive Secrets

A devoted father dies in a car explosion. Could reexamining DNA evidence crack the case wide open?

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What’s Happening Now

74-Year-Old Ride-Hailing Driver Killed by Passenger in Phoenix: Suspect Charged with Second-Degree Murder

A 74-year-old ride-hailing driver in Arizona was tragically killed when a female passenger, Jordan Spalding, 31, ran him over multiple times with his own car in Phoenix.

Spalding has been charged with second-degree murder and her bond is set at $1 million.

The incident occurred after an argument between the driver, Samuel Webster, and Spalding.

Despite Spalding's claims that Webster tried to rape her, authorities found no evidence to support this.

Spalding had also admitted to using fentanyl earlier in the day.

Webster later died from his injuries at a hospital.

The investigation is ongoing.

Illegal Immigrant Admits to Murdering Woman on her 21st Birthday and Burying her in the Woods

An illegal immigrant, Jhon Moises Chacaguasay-Ilbis, admitted to strangling a woman on her 21st birthday and burying her in the woods after dragging her past a police cruiser.

Chacaguasay-Ilbis pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in a Syracuse court, and Judge Ted Limpert agreed to sentence him to no more than 25 years to life in prison.

Both Chacaguasay-Ilbis and the victim, Joselyn Jhoana Toaquiza, were in the U.S.

illegally from Ecuador and had known each other since primary school.

A source from the Department of Homeland Security confirmed their illegal status.

Chacaguasay-Ilbis was captured in January 2023 but released due to lack of space, while Toaquiza crossed the border a few months later, claiming to be fleeing an abusive partner.

Chacaguasay-Ilbis is scheduled for sentencing on Feb. 14.

🙎‍♂️Safety Tip of the Day: If you are an undocumented immigrant in the U.S., know your rights and stay informed about legal resources available to you.

Understanding your legal rights is crucial in ensuring your safety and protection. While undocumented immigrants can be vulnerable to exploitation or unfair treatment, knowing what protections are in place—such as the right to remain silent, the right to an attorney, and access to certain public services—can help you navigate challenging situations. Additionally, it's important to stay informed about local and federal policies, as they can impact your safety and options for seeking legal advice or assistance.

Cold Case Highlights

DNA Evidence Leads to 28-Year-Old Cold Case Murder Charges

Nearly three decades after the murder of Mary Moore Searight in Texas, the man believed responsible was formally charged using DNA evidence.

Searight, 86, was found beaten and strangled in her home in 1996, dying three days later from her injuries.

David Paul Cady Jr., one of her tenants at the time, was indicted in 2024 after DNA testing identified him as the suspect.

Despite earlier attempts to collect DNA samples that did not yield significant results, a breakthrough came in 2021 through the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative program, leading to Cady's arrest in 2024.

Family's Breakthrough Leads to Closure in Four-Year Old Cold Case of Ray Neal's Death

The four-year old cold case of Ray Neal's death has been closed, with the help of his family providing a breakthrough to Gwinnett County Police.

Neal's niece, Ashli Haynes, discovered her uncle dead in his Norcross home in July 2019.

Initially ruled as a natural death, it was later determined to be a homicide after stab wounds were found.

The family pointed investigators towards Carmen Marie Hunt, who was already in jail for a similar crime.

A bloody fingerprint at the crime scene matched Hunt, leading to her being charged with felony murder and aggravated assault.

Haynes expressed relief and gratitude for the closure, but still seeks answers on why Neal was killed.

PODCAST: 48 Hours | The Ivy League Murder

A newly engaged Yale grad student is shot by an unknown assailant following a fender bender. Was it a case of road rage, or was he specifically targeted? Anne-Marie Green reports.

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🔍^{Trivia Answer}
Deportation is a possible consequence after serving their sentence.

In addition to serving time for a conviction, illegal immigrants may face deportation once their sentence is completed, depending on the crime and immigration laws.