Skip to main content
Wednesday, November 11, 2026Nov 11
Subscribe
All Sections
Search
More

Man arrested in death of 8-year-old Arizona girl

This undated photo provided by the Bullhead City Police Department shows Isabella “Bella” Grogan-Cannella, an 8-year-old Bullhead City, Arizona, girl who was reported missing on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2014. Police, firefighters and volunteers fanned out in Bullhead city neighborhoods, nearby parks and river areas to look for the missing child. (AP Photo/Courtesy of the Bullhead City Police Department)
This undated photo provided by the Bullhead City Police Department shows Isabella “Bella” Grogan-Cannella, an 8-year-old Bullhead City, Arizona, girl who was reported missing on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2014. Police, firefighters and volunteers fanned out in Bullhead city neighborhoods, nearby parks and river areas to look for the missing child. (AP Photo/Courtesy of the Bullhead City Police Department) This undated photo provided by the Bullhead City Police Department shows Isabella “Bella” Grogan-Cannella, an 8-year-old Bullhead City, Arizona, girl who was reported missing on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2014. Police, firefighters and volunteers fanned out in Bullhead city neighborhoods, nearby parks and river areas to look for the missing child. (AP Photo/Courtesy of the Bullhead City Police Department)

By Associated Press 2 min read

BULLHEAD CITY, Ariz. (AP) – Police arrested a man Thursday in the disappearance and death of an 8-year-old Arizona girl whose body was discovered in a shallow grave near her home.

Justin James Rector, 26, is being held without bond at the Mohave County jail on murder and kidnapping charges.

Authorities have not said how Isabella “Bella” Grogan-Cannella died or whether the family knows Rector. Bullhead City police confirmed Thursday that her body was found the day before. They planned to release more details about the case at a news conference later Thursday.

Court records indicate Rector has a lengthy criminal record involving a dozen cases in the Bullhead City area between 2006 and 2014. His convictions included disorderly conduct, possession of drug paraphernalia, criminal damage, aggravated assault, assault and criminal trespassing.

Isabella’s family reported her missing early Tuesday after she couldn’t be found in their home in Bullhead City, which is on the Arizona-Nevada border some 100 miles southeast of Las Vegas.