Ex-boyfriend charged with murder of missing Phoenix mother
Mar 8, 2018, 9:47 AM | Updated: 7:05 pm
Jasmine Rain Dunbar (Phoenix Police Department Photos)
(Phoenix Police Department Photos)
PHOENIX — A Phoenix man has been charged with first-degree murder of a missing mother whose infant was found along a road.
The Phoenix Police Department said investigators initially questioned 20-year-old Antwaun Travon Ware on Wednesday. Jasmine Dunbar’s family told authorities she was last seen with him.
Dunbar’s family told authorities they believe Dunbar left with Ware, her ex-boyfriend, so he could take a paternity test.
Court paperwork said that Ware allegedly admitted to getting into a physical confrontation with Dunbar near 107th Avenue and Camelback Road. Police said he admitted to punching her numerous times and leaving in her a field.
Ware also told police that he left the 7-month-old girl near 83rd Avenue and Camelback Road because he saw people who he thought would take care of her. He then returned to the crime scene and found Dunbar had died.
He then allegedly told police that he lit her body on fire using gasoline and a cigarette and watched the flames burn out.
A significantly burned body was found in the area on Wednesday afternoon. It was tentatively identified as that of Dunbar, though an official identification will be withheld pending tests.
Ware was arrested after the body was found. In addition to murder, he was charged with kidnapping, abandonment of a body and child abuse.
Dunbar was reported missing on Tuesday night after the 7-month-old girl was found near 51st Avenue and Thomas Road in Phoenix.
Police spokesman Sgt. Jonathan Howard said the baby was found about an hour after motorists called police to report seeing the girl near 83rd Avenue and Camelback Road.
