Arizona man convicted of aunt’s murder sentenced to 13 years in prison

Ares Adle was 14 years old at the time of the crime
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Ares Adle, who was found guilty of second-degree murder, was sentenced to 13 years in prison for the 2019 murder of his aunt, 42-year-old Tonya Harper.
Published: Dec. 5, 2024 at 9:46 PM UTC|Updated: Dec. 6, 2024 at 1:46 AM UTC
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PHOENIX (AZFamily) — An Arizona man convicted of stabbing a family member to death when he was 14 years old has learned how long he’ll spend behind bars.

Ares Adle, who was found guilty of second-degree murder, was sentenced to 13 years for the 2019 murder of his aunt, 42-year-old Tonya Harper.

“I hope you guys find God to forgive me,” Adle said to the other side of his family moments after his sentence was read.

“We’re happy the judge saw the mental health and for all intents and purposes that Ares is a good person,” said Latrice Ciricillo, Adle’s mom.

“Oh we’re heartbroken. This has been mentally, physically and emotional damaging for all of us,” said Harper’s sister, Sophia Evans.

Tonya Harper’s youngest son, Omar Harper, addressed the judge.

“Everyday I blame myself for what happened. Whenever I needed her she was there, but the one time she needed me,” Omar Harper said.

He had to leave the courtroom overcome with sadness, as he and his family asked for the maximum 25-year sentence.

During the night of Feb. 1, 2019, then-14-year-old Adle stabbed and killed his aunt at her home near Alma School and Chandler Heights, south of Chandler. Prosecutors say he planned the crime, pointing out evidence that Adle cut over a dozen phone lines and hid some of his aunt’s cell phones and the bloody knife.

Defense attorneys argued against the allegations, claiming the prosecutors lacked motive for the crime.

New evidence was presented in court on Thursday.

The state claimed Adle mocked the court system and the victim’s family after his conviction.

They showed a video call he had with his mom from behind bars.

“Are you happy now? Are you happy with yourself? Now that you see me in orange are you so happy? Are you giddy inside?” Adle can be seen addressing his other aunt in the video.

The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office case agent also revealed new details of a troubling and disturbing past for Adle.

“Ares has history of behavioral issues, underage drinking, violence toward animals, and accusations of sexual abuse on his cousin,” said MCSO Detective Shonci Hawkins.

During the night of Feb. 1, 2019, then-14-year-old Ares Adle stabbed and killed his aunt at...
During the night of Feb. 1, 2019, then-14-year-old Ares Adle stabbed and killed his aunt at her home near Alma School and Chandler Heights, south of Chandler.(Arizona's Family)

But Adle’s family had long said this was a psychotic mental health break, telling Arizona’s Family back in October he was diagnosed with a form of schizophrenia after the murders.

Mental health was not admissible during trial, but the judge has access to medical reports about it.

Adle’s family, including his wife, leaned on that during their victim impact statements Thursday.

“I feel like my husband needs help, not 25 years in a closet, a 4x4 closet. He needs help from doctors,” said Ares Adle’s wife, Fame Adle.

“Can he please get some help because he needs it, and I pray anyone gets it before something drastic like this happens” said Tonya Harper’s aunt Annetta, supporting Ares.

In the end, the judge agreed that mitigating factors outweighed aggravating factors and that the only way to explain what happened was a young boy who had serious mental health issues and handed down a 13-year sentence for Ares Adle.

The range was between 10 and 25 years.

But realistically, no one celebrated the ending, as Tonya Harper was taken too soon by a teen, now a man, who tore this family apart.

“He killed Tonya. He stole a piece of all of us, and destroyed our family. Ares is the devil himself walking amongst us ,” said Evans.

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