This case is one the best examples of how quickly emotions can override judgements. It would have been a regular evening for kids in an Arizona park, except it turned into a deadly evening that affected several families.
On February 27, 2024, at Westgreen Park in Peoria, 31-year-old Branfie Gotch took her kids to the local park. There, Gotch’s children got involved in a physical and verbal dispute with other kids.
Gotch lost her cool when she saw her kids being bullied and mocked and confronted those whom she thought to be bullies. The situation quickly spiraled out of control. Gotch got involved as a parental defense but then ended up hurting these kids.
Witnesses in the park have stated that Gotch initially confronted a young boy. She then physically assaulted him by pulling his hair. This quickly escalated an already tense situation.
But this was not it. She then picked an upstick and ran after the boy. All the while threatening to kill him. She also promised to run him over with her car. After these threats, people around her got involved and asked her to leave.
After the confrontation, Gotch then returned to her pickup truck. She is said to deliberately act out of aggression as she muttered and reversed her car in the direction of the children. Her car struck a 12-year-old girl, causing her to fall. Luckily, she just incurred only a sprained ankle and other minor injuries and was otherwise safe.
Arizona woman sentenced for driving truck through park full of kids, running over 12-year-old girl https://t.co/JHgAZau8Ah
— True Crime News (@MyTrueCrimeNews) June 16, 2025
But this incident would be extremely terrifying for all the kids in the park and witnesses who saw an adult woman trying to run kids over.
Gotch did not even stop to check on the injured child and fled the scene. She was later arrested at her residence. However, in her police interviews, she denied hitting anyone.
Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell has responded strongly to the incident. She stated that Gotch had put the lives of multiple children and adults in danger in a crowded park. She even called everyone extremely lucky to have sustained major injuries or something worse. Mitchell stressed that it is the responsibility of adults to act with maturity and control. This is especially true in highly charged situations involving children.
VENGEFUL MOM: Police say an Arizona mother became enraged by apparent bullying against her children, prompting her to drive her pickup truck through a crowded park, running over a 12-year-old girl in the process.
MORE: https://t.co/nokzA9jaaT pic.twitter.com/zkkxyECGI9
— WTVC NewsChannel 9 (@newschannelnine) June 16, 2025
Gotch’s defence counsel made claims of severe bullying that Gitch’s kids had to endure both at school and at the park. During court proceedings, she claimed the other children mocked her kids and filmed them. Kids also shared these videos, contributing to their distress.
However, the court rejected these claims, saying that personal frustration does not justify violence, especially not the actions that put the lives of other kids at risk.
Did you know? Our research reveals that 36% of pupils with SEND experience frequent bullying, compared to 25% of those without SEND. 📢
Explore our SEN & Disability resources to learn more and take action: https://t.co/hzHDA025TQ pic.twitter.com/KGjxABxKuN
— Anti-Bullying Alliance #AntiBullyingWeek (@ABAonline) June 16, 2025
Gotch has pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The sentencing was then handed down on June 13, 2025. The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office confirmed the plea and the severity of the charges. They have emphasized the potentially fatal consequences of her actions.
Brandie Gotch has been sentenced to ten years in state prison
Gotch ultimately accepted a plea deal to avoid a trial. The 10-year sentence reflects both the seriousness of the incident and the court’s intent to deter similar acts. She will serve her sentence in a state correctional facility.
