Last week, Phoenix detectives were investigating the identity of a baby who was found abandoned on the side of the road. Later, they discovered a burned body.
Eventually, they were able to deduce that there was a connection between the two. According to 12News, by way of People, Jasmine Rain Dunbar, 21, was last seen with her 7-month-old daughter and her ex-boyfriend Antwaun Ware on Tuesday night at her home in West Phoenix.
Hours after Dunbar was last seen alive, her daughter was found alone in her car sear, outside, six miles from her home. The child was left with an adult shoe, a diaper bag and a backpack that contained Dunbar’s ID.
Last Wednesday, police found Ware at his home and brought him to the police station for questioning.
According to police, Ware changed his story about his whereabouts that evening several times. First, he said he took Dunbar and the child back to her home. Later, he claimed that he punched Dunbar during a fight and eventually dropped her off in the field where her body was later found. Ware said he panicked afterward and left her daughter in another area.
Eventually, Ware told police that he went back to the field where he left Dunbar and put a piece of paper on her body. Then he admitted to pouring gasoline on her body, lighting it with a cigarette. He claims he watched her body burn before leaving the scene to get the baby.
Official identification of Dunbar’s body is still pending.
But with Ware’s testimony and the gasoline can left by the body, police say they’ve obtained enough evidence to substantiate Ware’s arrest.
He is currently being held on a $1 million bond.
According to Dunbar’s grandmother, the former couple met up because Dunbar was taking Ware to take a paternity test.
In an interview with Fox 10, Jasmine’s mother, Tonya Smith said, ““I can’t, I can’t get it in my brain. I have cried so much today. What was the reason?” Smith said.
“He took away life. He took love. He snatched it like it belonged to him,” Smith said. “Jasmine mean the world to me. She was my daughter. She was beautiful. She was smart. She was funny, goofy I’m telling you.”
Smith also expressed the pain she feels, not being able to protect her daughter.
“I hate that I couldn’t be there to protect her, cause that’s what every mother wants to do is protect their child. And I couldn’t be there to do that. That’s a regret I’ll have to carry on,” Smith said.
Smith has launched a Go Fund Me campaign to cover funeral expenses and help with the costs of raising Dunbar’s child.
