Phoenix Police looking for 7th sexual assault victim; suspect indicted on multiple felonies
Police searching for alleged victim of suspected serial sexual predator
The suspect, identified as Tyler Munguia, is already in custody, and has been indicted on multiple criminal counts of sexual assault and kidnapping. Now, police are looking for an additional victim in the case that they were not able to identify previously. FOX 10's Stephanie Bennett spoke with a man who had hung out with Munguia in the past. Munguia lived next to the man's grandmother in Chandler.
PHOENIX - An accused violent sexual predator is behind bars, but Phoenix investigators say they believe more victims are still out there.
Tyler James Munguia, 25, was arrested in June 2022, and the Maricopa County Attorney's Office says he violently assaulted at least seven women in Phoenix and Chandler.
Police say they have new evidence - including videos of the attacks - spanning from October 2021 to June 2022. All the incidents happened in Arizona, and court documents say he targeted prostitutes.
According to investigators, all but one of the victims were identified, located, and agreed to help in the prosecution of Munguia.
"In April 2023, a Grand Jury handed up an indictment against Munguia on 59 felony charges, including sexual assault and kidnapping related to the six victims," read a portion of the statement.
Tyler Munguia
We first reported on Tyler Munguia in July 2022. At the time, we reported that the Chandler man was accused of abducting and sexually assaulting several women.
According to court documents at the time, at least two people were targeted. In April 2022, Munguia allegedly sought out a prostitute, and allegedly held the victim at knife point, bound her wrists, legs, and put a bag over her head. After this, Munguia allegedly took her back to his home, located in the area of McClintock and Ray in Chandler.
Court documents allege that Munguia sexually assaulted the victim and released her at after a 10-hour ordeal. The victim went to police, and allege that five other prostitutes had similar incidents involving Munguia, but hadn't reported the crimes.
"This is a big one. He committed a lot of violent acts, so having him behind bars is a help to the community," said Edward DeCastro with the Phoenix Police Department, during the news conference on April 27.
Police looking for 7th victim
Two necklaces reportedly worn by the seventh victim in a string of sexual assault incidents linked to Tyler Munguia (Photo Courtesy: Phoenix Police)
Almost a year after Munguia's arrest, police say they are asking for help from the public to identify a 7th victim whose was allegedly sexually assaulted on video.
"The only thing we have on her at this point: two necklaces that she's wearing. A necklace that says Angel, and a charm or pendant. She is a White or Hispanic female. 18-22 years old, red or auburn hair that could be a wig. If anybody has any information, we want to make sure she's OK, get her resources," said Edward DeCastro with the Phoenix Police Department, during the news conference on April 27.
Anyone with information should contact Phoenix Police.
People who knew suspect speak out
As police look for the 7th victim, people who knew the suspect are speaking out.
"Just shocked, mostly," said Chase Thude.
Thude said he would occasionally hung out with Munguia whenever he visited his grandmother in Chandler.
"We would go to the skatepark, to Vanguard Ai rsoft sometimes as kids, and we just knew him as a neighbor," said Thude.