Three adults have been arrested in connection with the death of a 16-year-old boy, who was found dead in Kingman.
According to the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office, on February 25, deputies were dispatched to the 2300 block of Packard Ave in Kingman, in reference to a runaway juvenile claim. Amber-Leah Valentine, 41, and Jon Imes, 41, both of Kingman, reported that their 16-year-old son had run away from home.
Deputies were told the teen was last seen the day prior around 10:00 am.
On February 28, 2023, deputies were dispatched to the area of Anson Smith Rd. and Indian Canyon Rd. in Kingman in reference to a death investigation. A deceased white male was located wrapped in a blanket behind a stone wall. Detectives responded to the scene and the decedent was conveyed by The Mohave County Medical Examiner’s Office. The identity of the deceased was unknown, and an autopsy was scheduled to determine the cause/manner of death.
Then on Thursday, March 2, Amber-Leah Valentine called the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office and reported that she had just freed her 14-year-old daughter, who was being held captive by Valentine’s roommates, Richard Pounds, 34, and Shioban Gujda, 39, both of Kingman.
Amber requested medical attention for both she and her 14-year-old daughter, and both were transported to Kingman Regional Medical Center. Amber-Leah Valentine indicated that she and her husband, Jon Imes, had disposed of their 16-year-old son’s body at the previously mentioned location. She admitted that she lied to deputies when they reported him as a runaway and acknowledged that he was already deceased at the time of the report. During questioning, Jon Imes admitted to disposing of his son’s body and lying to deputies about him running away.
Detectives spoke with the 14-year-old daughter while she was at Kingman Regional Medical Center. The female juvenile indicated that she had been shot in the eye with a BB gun by Richard Pounds and provided additional accounts of abuse in the home. Arizona Department of Child Safety was contacted, and the juvenile is currently receiving medical treatment at an undisclosed location.
Both Amber-Leah Valentine and Jon Imes were taken into custody for felony Abandonment/ Concealment of a Dead Body and booked into the Mohave County Adult Detention Facility.
A search warrant was served at the residence in the 2300 block of Packard Ave. with the assistance of the Bullhead City SWAT team. The roommates, Richard Pounds and Shioban Gujda were taken into custody and questioned at the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office. After questioning, Richard Pounds was arrested for felony Child Abuse and Aggravated Assault and booked into the Mohave County Adult Detention Center.
Shioban Gujda was released pending further investigation.
The Mohave County Medical Examiner’s Office conducted an autopsy on the 16-year-old on Saturday to determine the cause of death. The autopsy results are pending.