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5-year-old girl dies after father throws her off a Florida bridge, police say 5-year-old girl dies after father throws her off a Florida bridge, police say
(about 4 hours later)
A five-year-old girl is dead after police say her father stopped on the side of a Florida bridge, took her from the car and threw her into the water below.A five-year-old girl is dead after police say her father stopped on the side of a Florida bridge, took her from the car and threw her into the water below.
John Nicholas Jonchuck, 25, has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of Phoebe Jonchuck, who was found — too late — an hour and a half later.John Nicholas Jonchuck, 25, has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of Phoebe Jonchuck, who was found — too late — an hour and a half later.
Police say that a St. Petersburg officer spotted a car speeding past at almost 100 miles an hour after midnight on Thursday morning. The officer turned on his cruiser lights to pull the car over, but the driver stopped on the Dick Misener Bridge and exited the vehicle.Police say that a St. Petersburg officer spotted a car speeding past at almost 100 miles an hour after midnight on Thursday morning. The officer turned on his cruiser lights to pull the car over, but the driver stopped on the Dick Misener Bridge and exited the vehicle.
The officer took out his weapon as Jonchuck appeared to move toward him, but instead the man turned around and took a child out of the car.The officer took out his weapon as Jonchuck appeared to move toward him, but instead the man turned around and took a child out of the car.
The officer said he might have heard the child scream, but he wasn’t sure, St. Petersburg police Chief Anthony Holloway said at a news conference, according to the Associated Press. The officer said he might have heard the child scream, but he wasn’t sure, St. Petersburg police Chief Anthony Holloway said at a news conference, according to the Associated Press. 
Jonchuck threw the girl over the bridge, and she fell 60 feet into the strong bay current, Holloway said.Jonchuck threw the girl over the bridge, and she fell 60 feet into the strong bay current, Holloway said.
“The suspect drove off,” Holloway said. “He just drove off.”“The suspect drove off,” Holloway said. “He just drove off.”
Two officers on the other side of the bridge began pursuing Jonchuck, who eventually turned around and attempted to drive the wrong way on the road back toward the bridge, according to Holloway. Officers used spikes to stop his car. He was taken into custody and charged with murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on a law enforcement, and aggravated fleeing and eluding police.Two officers on the other side of the bridge began pursuing Jonchuck, who eventually turned around and attempted to drive the wrong way on the road back toward the bridge, according to Holloway. Officers used spikes to stop his car. He was taken into custody and charged with murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on a law enforcement, and aggravated fleeing and eluding police.
According to the AP, Jonchuck, who was from Tampa, had custody of the child and had attempted to file a domestic violence claim against her mother last month, but it was not granted.According to the AP, Jonchuck, who was from Tampa, had custody of the child and had attempted to file a domestic violence claim against her mother last month, but it was not granted.
“It’s unfathomable I mean and officers see all kinds of things but it’s still very difficult to see something like this unfold before your eyes what could make someone throw someone over a railing let alone your own child? How could you possibly understand that?” St. Petersburg Police spokeswoman Yolanda Fernandez said according to WFLA.“It’s unfathomable I mean and officers see all kinds of things but it’s still very difficult to see something like this unfold before your eyes what could make someone throw someone over a railing let alone your own child? How could you possibly understand that?” St. Petersburg Police spokeswoman Yolanda Fernandez said according to WFLA.
Genevieve Torres, who is an attorney, said she met with Jonchuck on Wednesday to discuss custody of Phoebe. She said that at the time he was acting strangely, calling her “God” and asking her to translate the Bible to Swedish, according to the Associated Press:
Torres was so worried about Jonchuck and Phoebe that she reported the odd statements to police. They interviewed Jonchuck and his daughter as he was picking her up from a church day care and both appeared to be in good health. Jonchuck said he didn’t want to harm himself or anyone else, the documents said.
Torres was so worried about Jonchuck and Phoebe that she reported the odd statements to police. They interviewed Jonchuck and his daughter as he was picking her up from a church day care and both appeared to be in good health. Jonchuck said he didn’t want to harm himself or anyone else, the documents said.
Phoebe’s mother Michelle Kerr said that she last saw her daughter and Jonchuck during a relatively peaceful Christmas Eve visit. But she said that Jonchuck often turned on her with little notice. During that visit, Kerr claims that he called child protective services and filed a false abuse claim against her.
“He does the Jekyll and Hyde. It’s just something that goes on in his head, he just wasn’t wired right,” Kerr told the AP.
Authorities began immediately searching for the child, who was later found about a mile from where she was thrown. Despite attempts to revive her, she was pronounced dead at 2:44 a.m.Authorities began immediately searching for the child, who was later found about a mile from where she was thrown. Despite attempts to revive her, she was pronounced dead at 2:44 a.m.
Fishermen who were on the water at the time saw the tragedy unfold on the bridge.Fishermen who were on the water at the time saw the tragedy unfold on the bridge.
“We’re seeing all the cop cars on the bridge and my partner got on the phone to find out what was going on,” fisherman Bobby Hay told WTSP. “If something would have been on the phone that somebody was off the bridge we could have ran over there and maybe saved that girl.”“We’re seeing all the cop cars on the bridge and my partner got on the phone to find out what was going on,” fisherman Bobby Hay told WTSP. “If something would have been on the phone that somebody was off the bridge we could have ran over there and maybe saved that girl.”