A man who tossed his 5-year-old daughter off a bridge has been charged with first degree murder, St. Petersburg police said Thursday.
John Jonchuck, 25, of Tampa, is accused of tossing his daughter Phoebe, 5, off of the Dick Misener Bridge, and causing her death.
Investigators say, Officer Williams Vickers, 36, was heading home just after mid-night when he saw a driver, later identified as Jonchuck, stop near the top of the Dick Miserner Bridge as he approached the Skyway, reach into the backseat of the vehicle, grab the child and throw her over the side of the rail into the water. Vickers’ attempt to stop Jonchuck’s vehicle by turning on his patrol car lights were not successful.
Upon hearing the splash of the child being dropped into the water, Vickers climbed down and tried to rescue the little girl, but was unable to do so before of strong currents. Phoebe’s body was later recovered.
Meanwhile, John Jonchuck was stopped by Manatee County authorities a little later.
John Jonchuck faces first degree murder charges, aggravated fleeing and eluding and aggravated assault with a motor vehicle on a law enforcement officer.
