Medical examiner rules pregnant 16-year-old Zariah Dodd died of gunshot wound at Phoenix park
What investigators now say happened at Marivue Park
A newly released medical examiner report has determined that 16-year-old Zariah Dodd, who was pregnant when she was killed, died from a gunshot wound to the head. Dodd’s body was found early on July 5, 2025 at Marivue Park, near 57th Avenue and Osborn Road in Phoenix. Investigators have said she was about 22 weeks pregnant at the time of her death.
The case has resulted in two defendants facing first-degree murder charges connected to the deaths of Dodd and her unborn child. The defendants have been identified as Jurrell Davis, 36, and Jechri James-Gillett, 18. Davis also faces a separate charge alleging sexual conduct with a minor.
Timeline from disappearance to discovery
Investigators have stated that Dodd left a group home in Surprise on the evening of July 4, 2025 and did not return. She was later found dead at the Phoenix park the following morning.
Records cited in court proceedings describe Dodd sending messages indicating she was frightened while riding in a vehicle and that she believed they were “driving in circles.” Her phone later stopped communicating, and subsequent location information placed it in areas investigators tied to the developing case.
July 4, 2025 (evening): Dodd leaves her placement in Surprise.
July 5, 2025 (about 6 a.m.): Dodd is found dead at Marivue Park.
January 2026: Medical examiner report publicly identifies the gunshot wound to the head as the cause of death.
Charges and the role alleged in court records
Police and prosecutors have alleged that Davis was the father of Dodd’s unborn child. Both Davis and James-Gillett have been charged with two counts of first-degree murder, reflecting the deaths of Dodd and the fetus.
Court filings described in reporting on the case include an alleged confession attributed to James-Gillett, who is said to have told investigators he shot Dodd and that he acted under direction and threats from Davis. Davis has denied ordering Dodd’s death, while investigators have said he acknowledged actions that placed him in contact with Dodd and James-Gillett around the time of the killing.
The defendants are charged; the allegations described in court records have not been proven in court.
What the medical finding changes—and what remains unresolved
The medical examiner’s ruling clarifies the manner and mechanism of death, which is a key element in homicide prosecutions. The criminal case now turns on issues that will be litigated through court proceedings, including intent, conspiracy, and each defendant’s level of participation.
Publicly described investigative details have included the absence of obvious identifying items on the victim at the scene and the use of phone-location and other records to build timelines. No trial outcome has been reported, and the case remains pending in the criminal justice system.