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10 TRAGEDY ON RIGGS ROAD DECEMBER Rush hour traffic should’ve died down by 7:30 p.m. one Monday when a 4-mile stretch of Riggs Road was closed between Interstate 10 and State Route 347 due to what Gila River Police Department called a “serious collision.” The police told InMaricopa a motorcyclist had died in the crash and the Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed it was 38-year-old Dustin Michael Tappe, a Maricopa Meadows resident, beloved husband and father of seven. His widow, Melody Rose Tappe, had loved Dustin since he was 11 years old. Melody said her soulmate “was the most incredible man and even better father.” In the days and weeks following the fatal crash, she desperately sought answers about what happened to the man she said was an adroit motorcyclist. “He was coming home to me and our babies!” Melody pleaded. “Everything in me says something isn’t right here.”
and closures, and the most hilarious arrests of the year.
6 TEEN SUICIDE SEPTEMBER
MATTRESS & FURNITURE
Zack Born, a 19-year-old who struggled with autism, depression and burn scars from a traumatic fire, died by suicide. Zack donated his organs, including his kidneys, liver and heart valves, to help others. His mother, Patty Born, a psychiatric nurse, was using her grief to raise awareness about depression, bullying and organ donation, urging parents to have difficult conversations with their children. Zack, who had recently obtained his driver’s license, had a history of struggles, including being bullied at work at a local hamburger joint and feeling isolated because of his autism. Patty reflected on her son’s kindness and his battle with chronic depression, urging people to treat others with compassion. She also shared the emotional toll of Zack’s bullying at the fast-food restaurant, where he was reportedly treated harshly by managers, contributing to his mental health decline. Patty’s grief has turned into a call for societal change, focusing on kindness, better treatment of those who are different, and the importance of mental health resources. She hopes her son’s life — and death — can be lessons for others, urging parents to help their children navigate depression and reach out when needed.
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Detectives with Maricopa Police Department’s Crime Scene Unit set up scanning equipment at the scene of a murder on Dancer Lane in the Maricopa Meadows at about 10:30 p.m. Nov. 22.
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While the road’s economic potential is clear, the real question remains: Will it actually make traffic less of a headache or just add a few more? Regardless, the new road would offer the Gila River Indian Community a chance to cash in on the traffic. 9 MURDER IN THE MEADOWS NOVEMBER Police were dispatched to the 45000 block of Dirk Street just before 7:15 p.m. one Friday night where they found an injured 16-year-old, Esteban Valenzuela, who was transported to a Valley hospital for treatment. Later, Maricopa Police Department confirmed the boy had been shot. Police closed Dancer Lane between Dirk Street and Guilder Avenue so the department’s crime scene unit could take over. At a vigil three days later, Valenzuela’s mother, a single mom of five, called him her protector and a “go-getter” with “a lot of heart.” The following night, two 15-year-olds — a boy and a girl — were arrested during a SWAT raid of a Villages home and a “high-risk” traffic stop at the Sonoran Creek Marketplace in connection with the homicide. In December, a third child — a boy, 16 — was also jailed in the case. At the time of publication, the names and nature of the charges were being withheld by MPD.
miles per hour. The chase ended tragically when Catus failed to navigate a curve, crashing into the intersection and dying from a massive head injury. Dashcam and bodycam footage show the aftermath, with Ewald reporting Catus’ broken neck and faint pulse. While toxicology reports are still pending, records show Catus had a history of DUI charges. The ongoing investigation is being handled by the Pinal County Sheriff’s Vehicular Crimes Unit. 8 THROWN FOR A LOOP NOVEMBER The City of Maricopa unveiled a feasibility study for the first phase of the Green Road loop. The plan is to reduce congestion on State Route 347, which currently handles over 11,000 vehicles a day. The new route would run along the city’s west side, providing an alternative for travelers and opening new opportunities for business and development in the area. This proposed bypass would stretch across the Gila River Indian Community, transforming the landscape with new roads, sidewalks and landscaping. According to the consultants, the project could generate new revenue streams and jobs. At full build-out, the road would feature two lanes in each direction, making the dream of avoiding John Wayne Parkway a reality.
Honorable mention SURREAL ESTATE JUNE
Forget the cookie- cutter homes you’ll find in most subdivisions. Maricopa’s unincorporated areas are home to some seriously
pool (at the time of publication, it was for sale for $800,000). Meanwhile, the Hidden Valley pyramid home, with its stained- glass windows and unique wooden interiors, definitely looks like it was designed for a totally different climate. For those into more offbeat designs, there’s the Dorito- shaped A-frame cabin
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Read more about Zack’s story on page 28.
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quirky digs that will make you question what “normal” really means. From a beach- inspired hillside retreat to a pyramid- shaped home that looks like it’s straight out of an Egyptian fantasy, these properties break every rule in the book. One standout was a four-bedroom, beachy abode in Thunderbird Farms, complete with ocean-inspired decor and a backyard
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Maricopa police released video footage from a fatal crash that occurred seven months earlier. Demetrius Catus, a 29-year-old motorcyclist, was being chased by Sgt. Michael Ewald when he crashed at the intersection of John Wayne and Alterra Parkways. Catus was reportedly traveling at nearly triple the speed limit, wobbling on his Kawasaki Sport bike before losing control and suffering fatal injuries. The pursuit started after Ewald spotted Catus speeding at 80 miles per hour in a 35 zone. The motorcyclist briefly stopped at Honeycutt Avenue but then sped off, reaching speeds of 100
and a startlingly yellow house that screams “look at me.” Whether it’s
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the funky exterior or the strange history, these homes prove Maricopa isn’t for the faint of heart when it comes to real estate.
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44360 W. Edison Road, Suite 100 Maricopa, AZ
InMaricopa.com | January 2025
January 2025 | InMaricopa.com
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