Man 'Essentially' Confesses to Murdering Arizona Couple, Claims He Used Meth With Victims, Sheriff Says
The bodies were recovered and positively identified as the husband and wife.
— -- A man has "essentially" confessed to murdering an Arizona couple who were missing for over a week, and the suspect claims he and the victims were involved in recreational methamphetamine use, law enforcement officials said today.
Jose Valenzuela "essentially" confessed on Wednesday to killing Michael Careccia, 44, and Tina Careccia, 42, an official from the Pinal County Sheriff's Office said at a news conference today in Florence, Arizona.
The couple went missing June 22, according to ABC affiliate KNXV in Phoenix.
Valenzuela told authorities "all this information about killing both Mike and Tina" near their Phoenix-area home, Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu said today. "This is a tragic case where both of these individuals ... were murdered."
Authorities said they have retrieved the murder weapon -- a revolver.
In addition to his confession, Valenzuela also directed authorities to the spot where the Careccias were buried, an official from the sheriff's office told ABC News today. The bodies have been recovered and positively identified as the husband and wife, the official said.
"One of our investigators had talked with him, got further information to determine that the decedents were buried on that property, very close to the house, within feet of the residence. He had a weapon on him at the time," Babeu said.
Valenzuela borrowed a hoe to bury his victims, Babeu said.
"He built not a makeshift grave, an actual 6-foot grave. And he put these victims in that grave and buried them," Babeu said.
Valenzuela was taken into custody without incident, the sheriff's office said.
Valenzuela is facing two charges of murder, the sheriff's office said.
He had an initial appearance this morning and was given a $2 million cash bond, officials said. The sheriff's office said it is unknown if Valenzuela has retained a lawyer yet.
But the case is still evolving, the sheriff's office said, in part because Valenzuela claimed Mike and Tina Careccia were involved in recreational methamphetamine use.
Valenzuela said he had a "two-year relationship or friendship with Mike and Tina," a sheriff's office officials said, noting that Valenzuela said he brought the Careccias meth on Father's Day, June 21, and attended a party at their home.
Later that evening, they went to Valenzuela's house and "something happened, a fight," that led to the killing, Babeu said.
While the sheriff's office would not confirm today if authorities believe the victims were involved in drug use, the sheriff said officials do believe there was drug use was involved, at least by Valenzuela, "by his own admission and some other information that we have."
The sheriff would not say if drugs were found at Valenzuela's house.
A full autopsy is pending, officials said.
ABC News' attempts to reach members of the Careccia family were not immediately successful.