Phoenix man allegedly tied amputee to wheelchair with plastic bags, left him to die in 105-degree heat

PHOENIX (TCN) -- A man has been arrested in connection with the death of a wheelchair user who was found tied up near a canal and left to die in 105-degree heat.

KPNX reports that on the evening of June 25, police were called about a man tied to a wheelchair near a canal. When they arrived, they found 33-year-old Aaron Goodyke in the 105-degree heat, tied to the wheelchair with plastic bags. Law & Crime reports his pants were around his ankles. He was pronounced dead at the scene, KSAZ reports.

Two witnesses told investigators they had seen Goodyke mumbling while they were out walking, Arizona’s Family reports. When one witness returned later, she told investigators the man was dead.

KPNX reports Gloria Barajas had offered to take care of him a week before he was found. According to an arrest affidavit obtained by Law & Crime, Goodyke had reportedly been evicted from the hotel where he was staying and had asked Barajas if he could stay with her because he was friends with her son.

When law enforcement officials interviewed Barajas, she alleged Goodyke was not eating or drinking but refused to seek medical care at the hospital. Barajas said that once she convinced Goodyke to go, her son, Hector Corrales, 41, and one of his friends put Goodyke into a car to take him.

Barajas alleged Goodyke then changed his mind and started flailing, but her son drove off. Both men later came back to the house without Goodyke, according to Arizona’s Family. 

Investigators learned Goodyke’s left leg had been amputated below the knee because of diabetes and he was a wheelchair user, per KPNX.

Authorities viewed surveillance footage from Barajas’ property that allegedly showed Corrales and the other man, whose name has not been released, tying Goodyke to the chair, KPNX reports. Corrales was initially arrested on an outstanding warrant for violating parole but allegedly refused to speak to investigators in connection with Goodyke’s death.

Corrales was arrested booked into jail June 29 on suspicion of kidnapping and first-degree murder, according to KPNX.

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