Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.
MARICOPA COUNTY, ARIZONA: Arizona woman, Brianna Elise Zerth, was arrested and charged with the alleged murder of her 33-year-old cousin, Peter McKenna Jr. The unfortunate incident occurred in 2022 when Zerth allegedly used a claw hammer to fatally beat McKenna.
Following a Maricopa County grand jury's decision to issue a true bill, Zerth was arrested on Friday, July 21, and now faces multiple charges, including second-degree intentional murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument, and tampering, destroying, or altering physical evidence. The court records shed light on the details of this tragic case, as reviewed by Law&Crime, and meanwhile, the authorities continue investigating to provide justice to McKenna and his grieving family.
Who is Brianna Zerth?
Brianna Zerth is a 30-year-old woman from Tuscon, Arizona, who was accused and charged with the murder of her cousin. On May 5, 2022, the Peoria Police Department received an emergency call reporting a dead person at a residence near 112th Avenue and W Diana Avenue. Upon reaching the home, first responders discovered the body of McKenna and found that he has evidently sustained multiple injuries from blunt-force trauma before declaring him dead at the scene.
The police department issued a press release detailing the initial findings of the investigation into the disturbing incident. Further inquiries and examinations are underway to determine the circumstances surrounding his death. McKenna suffered multiple puncture wounds to his back inflicted with a claw hammer discovered at the scene, as per the court documents, which further mention the presence of blood spatter on multiple walls and the floor of the home where the incident occurred.
Brianna Zerth charged with second-degree murder
Zerth was initially arrested in connection with the death of McKenna. However, she was subsequently released because prosecutors decided not to formally charge her due to a lack of evidence. "The County Attorney’s Office received a submittal from the Peoria Police Department on Brianna Zerth for an incident on May 4. The submitted charges were second-degree murder, aggravated assault, and tampering with evidence," the County Attorney’s Office said in a statement. "Prosecutors reviewed the evidence and referred the case back to law enforcement for additional information. Our office has had regular contact with the next of kin in this case, and we acknowledge the criminal justice system can be frustrating. We will make a decision on this case upon receiving the additional information requested."
