Ariz. Murder Suspects Allegedly Sent Photos of Victim's Brutally Mutilated Body to His Family

Three men were charged with murder in the death of Bernardo Pantaleon

Three Phoenix, Ariz., men have been charged in connection with the brutal murder of a man found dead on a trail with “significant bodily trauma,” the city’s police department says.

Leonardo Santiago, 21, Manuel Carrasco Calderon, 21, and Jose Rodriguez, 20 were arrested and each charged with first-degree murder in the Nov. 26 death of Bernardo Pantaleon, 30, jail records indicate.

The three men allegedly confessed to killing Pantaleon, police claim in court documents obtained by FOX 10, KTAR News and AZ Family. Pantaleon was shot multiple times and his body was mutilated, the documents state.

The documents also reportedly allege that Santiago told police he shot Pantaleon after the latter made what he claimed was an unwanted advance. However, police say that messages found by police between the three men allegedly detailed plans to rob and kill Pantaleon, the outlets reported.

AZ Family reported, citing court documents, that pictures of Pantaleon’s mutilated body as well as another of a person flipping their middle finger were sent to his family via social media.

In court documents, police say messages in a groupchat sent among the three derided Pantaleon, who was gay, for his sexuality, FOX 10 reported.

Pantaleon’s family started a GoFundMe in the aftermath of his death.

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“As some of you may know we have lost a loved one in our family,” the GoFundMe organizer wrote. “A person who was not just full of love, but the funniest, caring loving person you will come across. It was never a dull moment with him. Bernardo was the rock for his siblings after the loss of their parents. Unfortunately, we are mourning him as we have lost him in the most tragic way possible. He will be missed and didn't deserve to suffer the way he did.”

The GoFundMe has raised more than $5,000.

In addition to first-degree murder, the trio were also charged with assisting a street gang, while Santiago and Carrasco Calderon were charged with crimes against a dead person, according to jail records. All three are in the custody of the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.

It is not immediately if any of the three have retained attorneys or entered a plea. They are due in court Friday.

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