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| Father charged as girl, five, thrown off US bridge | |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| A Florida man has been charged with murder after police say he threw his five-year-old daughter off a bridge in St Petersburg. | A Florida man has been charged with murder after police say he threw his five-year-old daughter off a bridge in St Petersburg. |
| A police officer saw the incident after he followed John Jonchuck Jr, 25, for speeding, Chief Anthony Holloway said. | A police officer saw the incident after he followed John Jonchuck Jr, 25, for speeding, Chief Anthony Holloway said. |
| The girl, who was dropped into 60ft (18m) of water, was found about an hour later and pronounced dead at hospital. | The girl, who was dropped into 60ft (18m) of water, was found about an hour later and pronounced dead at hospital. |
| Police are unsure if she was dead before she landed in the water but an autopsy was under way. | Police are unsure if she was dead before she landed in the water but an autopsy was under way. |
| Mr Jonchuck was arrested 30 minutes later after driving away. He is scheduled to make an initial court appearance on Thursday. | Mr Jonchuck was arrested 30 minutes later after driving away. He is scheduled to make an initial court appearance on Thursday. |
| Mr Holloway said an off-duty officer had been driving home when he saw a vehicle pass by him at 100mph (161km/h). | Mr Holloway said an off-duty officer had been driving home when he saw a vehicle pass by him at 100mph (161km/h). |
| The officer, not identified, drove to catch up with the vehicle but it stopped suddenly and Mr Jonchuck got out and moved towards the police officer. | The officer, not identified, drove to catch up with the vehicle but it stopped suddenly and Mr Jonchuck got out and moved towards the police officer. |
| The officer drew his gun but Mr Jonchuck allegedly moved to the passenger side of the vehicle and pulled out his daughter and briefly pressed her head to his chest. | The officer drew his gun but Mr Jonchuck allegedly moved to the passenger side of the vehicle and pulled out his daughter and briefly pressed her head to his chest. |
| Mr Holloway said the officer "thought he heard the child scream, but he wasn't sure" as Mr Jonchuck threw her over the rail and into the strong current of Tampa Bay. | Mr Holloway said the officer "thought he heard the child scream, but he wasn't sure" as Mr Jonchuck threw her over the rail and into the strong current of Tampa Bay. |
| "The suspect drove off," Mr Holloway said. "He just drove off." | "The suspect drove off," Mr Holloway said. "He just drove off." |
| "I've been doing this for 29 years and I have no idea what was going on in the guy's mind." | "I've been doing this for 29 years and I have no idea what was going on in the guy's mind." |
| The officer tried to locate the girl immediately after but could not find her. She was found 1.5 miles (2.4km) from the bridge. | The officer tried to locate the girl immediately after but could not find her. She was found 1.5 miles (2.4km) from the bridge. |
| Mr Jonchuck, who lives with his father, had custody of the five-year-old. He had been previously arrested, including for domestic battery in 2008 and a drink driving charge in 2013. | Mr Jonchuck, who lives with his father, had custody of the five-year-old. He had been previously arrested, including for domestic battery in 2008 and a drink driving charge in 2013. |
| He had recently filed a domestic violence report against the child's mother but it was dismissed. | He had recently filed a domestic violence report against the child's mother but it was dismissed. |