Pinal County sheriff's deputies responded to the home for a health and welfare check after she didn't show up for work yesterday, Jan. 20th. Deputies forced entry into the residence after they received no response, and made contact with a male subject later identified as John Valencia. In the course of checking the residence, deputies discovered a deceased female in the garage. The victim was later positively identified as Zenaida Valencia.
John Valencia, son of the victim, was taken into custody was booked into the Pinal County Adult Detention Center in connection with Zenaida Valencia’s death.
The cause of death has not been released at this time, as the results of the autopsy are still pending.
Deputies said they found a freshly dug hole that measured 18 inches wide, 4 feet long and 18 inches deep in the back yard of the home, but have not stated whether it is related to the crime scene.