Inset (left): Mark Spadt (Yuma County Sheriff's Office). Inset (right): Diana Valle Walle (Facebook). Background: The area in Yuma, Ariz., where Diana Valle Walle was found dead (KPHO).
An Arizona man has been arrested after police say he was the last person to contact a 15-year-old girl who went missing.
Mark Spadt, 52, was arrested on Thursday in connection with the death of 15-year-old Diana Valle Walle, whose body was found in Yuma, Arizona, on June 1. According to the Yuma County Sheriff's Office, Spadt was also suspected of sexually abusing the teen before killing her and hiding her body. Local CBS affiliate KPHO reported that police first attempted to execute a warrant at Spadt's home on June 12, but he was not there.
Diana was reported missing from her home in San Luis, Arizona, before her body was found near an intersection in Yuma, more than 20 miles from where she lived. Police said they had evidence that connected Spadt to the missing teen days after she was found. After they searched his home in Yuma on June 12 and allegedly found drug paraphernalia and 83 grams of methamphetamine, he was arrested for possession of dangerous drugs for sale, possession of dangerous drugs, and several counts of possession of drug paraphernalia.
Spadt posted bail and was released on June 27.
KPHO spoke with Lt. Sam Pavlak of the Yuma County Sheriff's Office on Thursday after the announcement of Spadt's arrest. Pavlak told KPHO that Spadt was a person of interest early on in their investigation of Diana's death because "he was one of the last known people to be in communication with the 15-year-old victim."
Details about Diana's cause of death were not shared. Police said she was wearing pink shorts, a blue shirt, and black nail polish on her toes when she was found. Her family set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for her funeral costs.
Spadt was charged with first-degree murder, two counts of sexual conduct with a minor, custodial interference, and tampering with evidence. He is being held at the Yuma County Detention Center on $1 million cash bail. His next court date could not be immediately confirmed.