Phoenix AZ ADHS Worker Stella Kiarie ID’d As Victim Found Dead In Vehicle With Rope Around Neck, Child Home Alone

PEORIA, AZ. (THECOUNT) — Stella W. Kiarie, of Phoenix, AZ, has been identified as the woman found dead in a vehicle Sunday. Her child was later discovered home alone.

Detectives found a 1-year-old boy home alone in Phoenix shortly after finding a Kiarie, 29, dead in her car. Troopers noted Kiarie had a rope around her neck and her injuries weren’t consistent with an apparent crash involving a wall on the Agua Fria Freeway, said the Department of Public Safety.

The woman, identified as 29-year-old Stella W. Kiarie, from Phoenix, was found dead in her car on the Loop 101 Agua Fria Freeway near West Bell Road on the southbound side around 7 a.m. on Sunday. The car was against the median wall with some damage to the passenger side, troopers said. source

Kiarie was pronounced dead at the scene.

Detectives found a child safety seat in the car and became concerned the woman might be caring for a child so they performed a welfare check at her home and found a 1-year-old boy alone.

Arizona Department of Health Services issued a statement as Kiarie was an employee there:

All of Stella’s colleagues at Arizona Department of Health Services were saddened by this news and this devastating loss. Stella was a kind, compassionate and important member of this team. Our deepest condolences are with her family and friends at this difficult time. The Department is not available to do an interview at this time, this is a devastating loss to our Department and our hearts go out to her family and friends.

Anyone with information on the incident should contact police at 911.