Michael Blanco, man sought in Phoenix murders found dead, police say
Posted: 03/12/2013
PHOENIX - An "investigative lead" in the murders of a Valley mother and daughter has been found dead at a Phoenix motel.
Police found the body of Michael Blanco around 3 p.m. Tuesday at the Knights Inn at Interstate 17 and McDowell, according to Sgt. Trent Crump.
Police said it appears Blanco died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Phoenix police had identified Blanco as a person of interest in the murders of his girlfriend, Christine Wilson and her 14-year-old daughter Vanessa Monday afternoon.
Nicole Adame, Christine's cousin, said Blanco and Christine had been dating for about five years.
Her family got suspicious of Blanco went he went missing after the murders.
"That's the only conclusion we can come to think of is that he had something to do with it. Signs point in that direction," said Adame.
Adame said Vanessa considered Blanco a father figure and said no one noticed any problems in the relationship between Christine and Blanco.
"Everybody's questioning themselves. Are we missing something, did she say something we bypassed in the last few weeks and that's what everybody is more or less playing back in their heads," said Adame.
A family member returned after being gone a few days and found the victims dead inside their Phoenix home .
Adame said the family was having candlelight vigil at the home where the victim's lived near 24th St & McDowell at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Family members of the victim set-up an account through Wells Fargo Bank in the name of Wilson Benefit Memorial Fund Acct# 8986463894 Rt#: 122105278.
Copyright 2013 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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