Two Beaten Arizona Boys Die, Attacker Faces Murder Charges

December 26, 2008 6:04 p.m. EST

Phoenix, AZ (AHN) - Two Arizona boys died on Friday from severe head trauma after they were badly beaten with a baseball bat at a Phoenix park on Tuesday.

Jesse Ramirez, 7, and his cousin Edwin Pellecier, 10, died 12 hours apart from each other at a hospital and their suspected attacker, Joe Sauceda Gallegos, 36, faces double murder charges for their deaths, according to Phoenix police spokesman Sgt. Tommy Thompson.

A surveillance camera from a nearby home caught on video a baseball bat-wielding Gallegos following the two boys to the community park in West Elwood Street last week. The boys were later found lying in the park at 1 p.m. Tuesday.

The man was arrested within hours after the attack. Gallegos is detained at the Maricopa County jail on charges of child abuse and dangerous crimes against children.