Man gets 3 life sentences in Ahwatukee triple-murder discovered after apartment fire

It’s been nearly a year since the bodies of three people were found in an Ahwatukee apartment that had been set on fire. On Monday, a judge sentenced 31-year-old Chase Christman to three consecutive life sentences in prison for the murders.

Christman had pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree murder, armed robbery and misconduct involving weapons.

The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office says Merissa Honeycutt, 27; Anthony Frederickson Ceccarelli, 25; and Samuel Lott, 37, were killed in what Christman and an accomplice planned as a drug-related robbery.

In July 2024, firefighters found the victims’ bodies when they responded to a blaze at the apartment. One had been stabbed nearly 30 times, and the other two had gunshot wounds.

Prosecutors allege Christman started the fire to try to cover his tracks.

Neighbors told investigators they heard screaming coming from the apartment. Police say one victim was fatally stabbed, another was shot to death and another was both shot and stabbed.

Authorities say the victims likely fought back during the violent attacks and that Christman had cuts on his hands when he was arrested. Prosecutors say blood found in the apartment was matched with Christman’s DNA.

R.J. Parker, an attorney representing Christman, didn’t return a phone call from The Associated Press.