Phoenix police arrest man in connection to a 33-year-old cold case

PHOENIX – Phoenix police and the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office arrested a man Tuesday in connection to a 33-year-old cold case.

Darron Miniefield, 57, was booked on first-degree murder charges for his alleged involvement in a 1987 murder case, according to a press release.

On Feb. 21, 1987, Marilyn Jones was found beaten, sexually assaulted and set on fire in an alley in downtown Phoenix. She was taken to Maricopa County Hospital Burn Unit for third-degree burns to 85% of her body.

She died March 5, 1987, and the case eventually went cold.

In the years that followed, investigators requested additional evidence testing and the Phoenix Police Crime Lab was able to further the investigation.

Between 2019 and 2020, a Phoenix police detective started working with MCAO investigators, who were able to track down additional evidence and Miniefield became a suspect in the homicide.

Miniefield denied any involvement in the case when he was arrested.

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