Maricopa County has been the backdrop of a chilling incident that has led to a grand jury indictment for J. John Alderman. In a recent press release from the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, it was reported that Alderman is facing charges of first-degree murder and animal cruelty following a tragic shooting at a Gilbert motel.
On the evening of August 12, Rodney Brewer and his wife, Jessica, accompanied by their dog, found themselves fatally in the wrong place — a parking space in front of Alderman’s room at the motel. What should have been a moment as mundane as any other twisted suddenly into a scene of violence when Alderman shot into the Brewers’ SUV, killing Jessica and injuring their dog. Alderman has now been formally charged with “First-Degree Murder, a Class One Felony” and “Cruelty to Animals, a Class One Misdemeanor,” with the trial set to commence in April of the following year.
The announcement from County Attorney Rachel Mitchell came a full sixteen days after the devastating event, revealing not only the murder charge but also the additional charge against Alderman for the injuries inflicted upon the Brewers’ pet. The nature of this incident starkly highlights the sometimes overlooked intersection of human and animal suffering in acts of violence…