Man sentenced for murder after body burned in Phoenix dumpster
PHOENIX - A suspect has been sentenced to over 40 years in prison for murder after a man was beaten to death and his body was set on fire near downtown Phoenix.
The incident happened on March 21, 2023. Phoenix Police say a body was found inside a burning dumpster near 11th Avenue and Madison Street inside the area formerly known as "The Zone," a large homeless encampment. The victim was later identified as Geoffrey Rugwiro.
Investigators say surveillance video showed Rugwiro being taken to a dark corner where a large amount of blood was found. He was then put into a shopping cart before being placed into a dumpster and set on fire.
Dave Dinkins, 25, was indicted months after the crime. He later pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and kidnapping. Authorities say incriminating texts linked him to the murder.
Dave Dinkins
"This defendant showed an unimaginable level of cruelty and an immense disregard for the victim’s life," Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said. "For too many years, ‘The Zone’ was a hotbed of crime and violence, plaguing those living and working in and around it. Everyone in Maricopa County deserves to feel safe in our community. My office is dedicated to ensuring those who threaten that safety and security are held accountable."
MCAO says a co-defendant in the case, Isaiah Baskin, is awaiting trial for murder, kidnapping, arson and abandonment of a dead body.