North Phoenix Man Charged in Connection with August Murder of Jake Kelly: Roommates Accused of Hindering Investigation

Accident – Death – Obituary News : North Phoenix Man Charged in Connection with August Murder of Jake Kelly, Court Documents Indicate

A 34-year-old man from North Phoenix, Angel Mullooly, has been charged with second-degree murder in the death of 39-year-old Jake Kelly in late August, according to court documents. The exact nature of the relationship between Mullooly and Kelly remains unclear, but court records suggest that Mullooly and Kelly’s two roommates knew each other.

Initially, Kelly’s roommates claimed not to know what had happened to him. According to court records, the roommates stated that after returning home from a party on August 28, they heard a loud noise outside and discovered Kelly injured and unable to speak. However, after authorities found a text message and photograph sent by Mullooly, it appeared that the roommates had been withholding information.

On August 28, police responded to Banner Thunderbird Medical Center and learned that Kelly had been assaulted the previous day. Kelly suffered multiple blunt force injuries, including fractures to his skull, face, ribs, and sternum, as well as other internal injuries. Despite undergoing several surgeries and being placed on life support, Kelly passed away on September 8. His cell phone and the t-shirt he was wearing during the assault were missing.

During the initial investigation, police found evidence that Kelly had been injured in the driveway of his residence near John Cabot and Cave Creek roads. They collected bloody clothing and a damaged cell phone case from the scene. Kelly’s roommates claimed to have found him injured in the driveway, but subsequent evidence suggested that they were aware of the assault.

Police interviewed friends of both Mullooly and Kelly, who revealed that the female roommate had sent texts, phone calls, and a photograph of Kelly bleeding in the bathtub. According to court records, the female roommate informed her friend that Mullooly and the male roommate had beaten up Kelly. Search warrants were obtained for the cell phones of Mullooly and the roommates, which revealed communication between the three on the night of the assault.

One text message sent by Mullooly to his former girlfriend, who lived with him at the time, stated that he had beaten up Kelly. The message was accompanied by a photograph showing Kelly sitting on the ground, bleeding, with the male roommate crouched next to him. An unidentified possible female, potentially the female roommate, was also present in the photo. Mullooly’s former girlfriend confirmed receiving the message and photograph but denied any knowledge of how Kelly sustained his injuries.

When confronted with the evidence, the female roommate initially denied any knowledge of the text message and photograph. However, she later admitted to being present in the photo but refused to answer whether Mullooly had taken it. Mullooly’s former girlfriend revised her statement and admitted to driving to Kelly’s house with Mullooly on the night of the incident, but claimed she was unaware of what had occurred.

After his arrest, Mullooly requested an attorney and did not provide any further statements regarding the incident. Kelly’s two roommates were also arrested and charged with hindering the investigation in connection with the murder.

The case continues to unfold as authorities gather more evidence. The motive behind the assault and the exact nature of the relationship between the individuals involved remain key questions. As the trial progresses, more details are expected to emerge.

In related news, the city of Phoenix is currently defending its decision to fire officer Sean Peña, who was recently acquitted of sexual assault charges. The city maintains that Peña’s termination was justified, despite his acquittal..