PHOENIX — The base of Lookout Mountain in Phoenix is home to some of the most pristine homes in Moon Valley. Tuesday, July 6, 2010 it was the scene of a homicide.”Oh my god, I was in shock. I was in shock,” said Hope Mcneely, who has worked for the past 10 years as a housekeeper at the home where the killing took place.
The body of Phyllis Mizioch, 57, was found at 9:30 p.m. in her kitchen, Phoenix police said.
The victim purchased the 5,000-square-foot home in 1999 with her husband, Peter Mizioch, who runs a Phoenix construction contractor business.
Mizioch has three kids and three grandchildren. She last saw her family at 5 p.m. the night she was murdered — by 9 p.m. her life had been taken away.
“Her niece found her,” Mcneely said.
Police said there were no signs of forced entry and are calling the case a homicide.
“It doesn’t appear that burglary or robbery was a motive in this case,” Phoenix police Sgt. Tommy Thompson said.
“She was married, going through a divorce,” Mcneely said.
Mcneely said the couple’s 18-year-old niece moved into the home with Phyllis after her husband, Peter Mizioch, moved out. Mcneely said she doesn’t know of any past violence between the couple.
“It was just a simple thing of trying to get rid of the place and making a settlement … just a normal divorce,” Mcneely said.
Phyllis Mizioch was described as a private person but had a close relationship with people she knew best, such as Mcneely.
Mizioch worked for Sunshine Angels, a charity that helps troubled kids in CPS care.
“She worked with the church, the chapel on Thunderbird Road. She did a lot of things, she was a good person and I loved her; I loved her,” Mcneely said.
Police have no suspects in the case.
Thompson said police are not looking for Peter Mizioch and that he is not a suspect in the case.
Reward for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for the murder of Phyllis has just been raised to $100,000 by family and friends.
Please contact 623-772-5687 or 928-221-0312

This entry was posted on Thursday, February 24th, 2011 at 9:02 am and is filed under $100,000+, Arizona, High Profile Cases, Unsolved Murder. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.