The body of Arianna Bailey Jones, 21, was found buried in a shallow desert grave near Lake Pleasant in Maricopa County, Arizona, alongside “several key pieces of evidence.” Shortly after, the police arrested 24-year-old Domonic Rodolico for committing the “well-planned” murder. According to official reports, Jones reportedly met him on social media.
The police charged Rodolico with first-degree murder and abandonment or concealment of a dead body in connection with Jones’ death. However, they haven’t yet confirmed how the crime was committed.
Jones’ family reported her missing on July 7 after failing to get hold of her. A review of her phone conversations led them to Rodolico. The police then conducted a “mobile and stationary surveillance” on him.
According to court documents obtained by Law & Crime, investigators allege that Rodolico lured Jones on a pre-planned date, which included a trip to the movie theater before driving her to the remote desert location.
“We believe that the two of them had been in communication with one another through some social media channels, and then they met for a date of some type,” Glendale police spokesperson Jose Santiago said at a press conference on July 13, adding the two were seen at a movie together “and then ended up in this remote area where we believe this crime took place.”
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Jones’ remains were found on July 11. Santiago said in the statement, “There is sufficient enough evidence to link them together. There was sufficient enough evidence to show Mr. Rodolico was in that area several times before they actually were in the area, so we don’t know if he was planning this or if this was happenstance from the situation that they were in.”
Police said phone records and evidence suggested Rodolico visited the desert site twice on July 5, the day of the suspected murder, to prepare the area beforehand.
After visiting the desert burial site a third time, Rodolico picked up Jones at her apartment. Surveillance footage shows the pair buying snacks and drinks at a local Harkins theater and later leaving the cinema together carrying white plastic souvenir cups.
Cellphone records indicate that after leaving the theater, Rodolico and Jones drove north into a remote desert area. Shortly after arriving, activity on Jones’ phone stopped completely.
“The devices remained in the deserted area for about 45-50 minutes,” the affidavit confirms.
“The victim’s device disconnected from the network, consistent with being powered off, placed in airplane mode, or otherwise disconnected from the network. About 10 minutes later, Domonic leaves the area where the victim’s cell phone was disconnected from.”
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“Domonic was observed on several occasions cleaning his vehicle…Detectives observed Domonic drive his Nissan Sentra to a nearby car wash. He proceeded to vacuum the passenger-side rear area of the vehicle and then used towels to wipe down the same area. Domonic kept the towels inside the vehicle and returned home. Once there, he opened the trunk and was observed manipulating and wiping the interior as though he was cleaning it.”
“Evidence at the scene showed premeditation by Domonic with the amount of equipment to include concrete bags/mix and forethought to the burial of her body,” the affidavit states. “The amount of equipment located appeared as though this incident was well planned.”
Rodolico presented a fabricated story to the police that involved two unknown suspects approaching their vehicle and stabbing the victim to death. Police officers noted that the suspect “did not appear to show any remorse for his actions and believed this was just a missing person case where he happened to be the last person to see the victim alive.” However, he reportedly failed to maintain eye contact and soon changed his story.
“Domonic then said he was instructed to bring the victim to the desert at an unknown male’s order, but he didn’t know he was going to kill her,” the affidavit says. “Domonic was unable to provide how any communication occurred between him and this unknown male. Domonic also admitted to going to the same desert location prior to picking up the victim.”
Rodolico’s recent murder charge comes less than a year after his sentencing for two gas station burglaries. He reportedly pretended to be an employee at two QuikTrip locations and stole $200 from the cash registers. At the time, court records classified him as “non-dangerous.”
Disclaimer: The Inquisitr could not independently confirm the facts of this incident and is reporting based on the information available within the public video record.
