Jan. 08--A Florida man stopped for speeding, took his 5-year-old daughter from his vehicle, hugged her head to his chest then tossed her over a bridge railing, 60 feet into the cold water of Tampa Bay where her lifeless body was later recovered, police said Thursday.
John Nicholas Jonchuck, 25, faces charges including first-degree murder and aggravated assault with a motor vehicle on a law enforcement officer, St. Petersburg police Chief Anthony Holloway said at a televised news conference. Jonchuck is scheduled to be arraigned later Thursday.
"I don't even know what was going through this guy's mind," Holloway told reporters as he described the events that began just after midnight.
Jonchuck was driving his Chrysler PT Cruiser southbound at about 100 mph toward the Skyway Bridge when he passed a St. Petersburg police officer who was heading home, Holloway said. The officer turned on his lights to stop the car.
The Cruiser stopped near the top of the Dick Misener Bridge on the approach to the Skyway and the officer pulled in behind the car.
Jonchuck got out and started toward the officer, who drew his gun. The officer thought he heard the child scream but he wasn't sure, Holloway said.
"The suspect started talking, but the officer didn't understand what he was saying," the chief said.
Then, Jonchuck walked over to the passenger's side door, pulled out his daughter, Phoebe, and cradled the child, bringing her to the rail. He then threw her into the bay, Holloway said.
The body was recovered about an hour and a half later, about a mile from the bridge, police said.
It wasn't known if the girl was alive when she was thrown. Investigators are awaiting the results of a medical examiner's report to determine exactly when and how she died.
Authorities said Jonchuck filed a domestic violence report against the child's mother last month, but it wasn't granted. He had custody of the child, and they lived with his father in Tampa.
Authorities didn't release information about the girl's mother.
After the confrontation on the bridge, Jonchuck got back in the car and headed south, crossing the bridge on Interstate 275.
"The suspect drove off," Holloway said. "He just drove off."
Two other officers who were near the bridge followed Jonchuck.
But, Holloway said Jonchuck turned his blinker on and stopped. He then started driving toward deputies, going the wrong way on the interstate.
Deputies put out traffic spikes and stopped the vehicle.
Jonchuck refused to talk to police after his arrest, Holloway said.
In addition to the murder and assault charges, Jonchuck also faces charges of fleeing and eluding police.
