Husband confesses he killed wife and leads cops to her body, Arizona officials say
A husband confessed to killing his 45-year-old wife and then led authorities to her body, Arizona officials said.
Kelly Paduchowski’s body was found at about 10 a.m. July 5, the Flagstaff Police Department said in a news release. The location was not disclosed by police, but the woman was reported missing from Flagstaff.
The discovery came after her husband, Daniel Paduchowski, 58, agreed to tell police where she was as part of a plea agreement, Coconino County Attorney Michael Tunink said during a news conference.
Additionally, he led authorities to her phone, car keys and the alleged murder weapon, Tunink said.
Under the agreement, Paduchowski will serve 16 years in prison without eligibility for early release, Tunink said.
Paduchowski also agreed to an interview that was done July 5 when he answered all questions, Tunink said.
He pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, tampering with physical evidence, the concealment of a dead body and possession of dangerous drugs, officials said.
What happened to Kelly Paduchowski?
Kelly Paduchowski was reported missing June 30 after she went on a run and never returned home, McClatchy News reported.
Cops tracked her cell phone to the Schultz Creek Trail at about 10:20 a.m. June 30, police said in a July 2 news release.
Her husband was then spotted in the same area at about 11:30 a.m., police said. Her phone was then tracked at her home at about 12:13 p.m. in the Coconino Estates neighborhood, police said.
Photos captured Daniel Paduchowski and his wife’s white Mazda CX-5 at the Campbell Mesa Trailhead at about 1:30 p.m., police said.
He then reported his wife missing at 7:39 p.m. from the Lake Mary area, which is about a 20-mile drive southeast from the Schultz Creek Trail, where police initially tracked her phone.
However, police discovered a “dried dark red droplet” outside of their home the day after he reported her missing, the Arizona Daily Sun reported.
More of what appeared to be blood was found on the front porch along with what appeared to be the missing woman’s baseball cap in a trash can with twine and other clothing, the news outlet reported from police.
A neighbor also told police they heard screams and saw the woman’s husband on top of her in the yard, 3TV & CBS 5 News reported from court documents.
Daniel Paduchowski was initially arrested on suspicion of aggravated assault against his missing wife before confessing to killing her, police said.
Flagstaff is about a 145-mile drive north from Phoenix.
This story was originally published July 8, 2024 at 12:41 PM with the headline "Husband confesses he killed wife and leads cops to her body, Arizona officials say."
