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Man arrested in death of 8-year-old Arizona girl

By WTOP Staff

FELICIA FONSECA
Associated Press

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — The man arrested in the disappearance and death of an 8-year-old Arizona girl had been staying in the family’s home, and police say he shoplifted clothing for himself to cover up the crime.

Police caught up with Justin James Rector near a Wal-Mart store in Bullhead City on Tuesday shortly after the family of Isabella “Bella” Grogan-Cannella reported her missing. He was booked into jail later that night on suspicion of shoplifting and remained in custody as authorities searched for Isabella.

On Thursday, police announced that the 26-year-old with a lengthy criminal record had been charged with murder and kidnapping. He was being held without bond.

A public defender appointed to his case did not immediately return a call from The Associated Press.

Isabella’s body was found in a shallow grave at the base of a hill in a desert area near her home along with shoe prints that matched Rector’s old shoes, Bullhead City police said.

“It didn’t go the way we all wanted (it) to,” said Bullhead City police Chief Brian Williamson. “We set out to find Bella alive and bring her home, but we have completed this mission of bringing someone to justice for Bella’s death.”

Police have not released a motive or said how she died. An autopsy was being conducted Thursday, the medical examiner’s office said.

Court records indicate Rector has a criminal record involving a dozen cases in the Bullhead City area between 2006 and 2014. His convictions include disorderly conduct, possession of drug paraphernalia, criminal damage, aggravated assault, assault and criminal trespassing.

Police said he took underwear, shoes and a shirt from Wal-Mart early Tuesday. He told police he hid his old shoes and a shirt in the store, according to a probable cause statement.

Williamson described Rector as a family friend and said he had been staying at Isabella’s Bullhead City home when the girl was reported missing early Tuesday morning. The city on the Arizona-Nevada border is about 100 miles southeast of Las Vegas.

Isabella’s 10-year-old sister told authorities that she went to the restroom while she and Isabella were playing hide and seek, and when she got out, Isabella and Rector were gone, according to a statement of probable cause.

Family and friends searched for her without luck before calling police Tuesday around 1:30 a.m. PDT. Dozens of police, firefighters and volunteers later fanned out in Bullhead City neighborhoods, parks and near river areas to look for the girl.

Investigators found no signs of a break-in or struggle at the home, and Isabella’s sister told police she didn’t hear any yelling or disturbances, Williamson said.

Isabella was discovered wearing the same green, ruffled, sparkly tank top she had on when she was last seen. When found, she did not have any clothing on her lower half, according to court documents. Williamson declined to say whether she had been sexually assaulted.

When questioned about her murder, Rector told authorities he could not talk about it and requested an attorney. He is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 12.

___

Associated Press Writer Paul Davenport in Phoenix contributed to this report.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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