Maricopa County Sheriff's Office to meet with victims' families in unsolved Guadalupe murders

A community leader in the town of Guadalupe alleges the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office hasn't done enough to repair trust broken from a long-running racial profiling case, and there’s concern the erosion has kept about a dozen murders going back to early 2024 from being solved.

The Sheriff’s Office is contracted to patrol Guadalupe — a town of roughly 5,000 residents of Latino and Yaquis heritage.

The agency last week held a town hall, partly to give an update on efforts to satisfy court orders.

Former Town Council member Andrew Sanchez said people who saw killings are scared to talk with deputies, and it shows bonds have not been repaired.

“And I kid you not, there were eyewitnesses. I hear the stories and I see the crosses littered throughout the town. It is scary out there,” he said.

Sanchez also said those murders date to when Paul Penzone held office.

Current Sheriff Jerry Sheridan said agency leaders will meet with victims’ families.

“I don’t think I’m saying anything out of school. We do have a gang problem here in Guadalupe. And a lot of times people that witness a crime don’t want to talk to the detectives,” he said.

Few residents were present because there was also a Town Council meeting taking place.

Sheridan apologized for scheduling his agency’s event on the same night.