Latest news with #FordShelbyGT500
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
He Wanted a Rare Mustang. When the Seller Backed Out, the Buyer Came Back with a Gun
NEED TO KNOW Alexander Lee Smith was sentenced last Friday to two consecutive life sentences for the Nov. 2023 murders of Walter Mitchell and Susie Ephrem Smith shot and killed the couple inside their Peoria, Ariz., home after a deal to buy Mitchell's rare Mustang fell through Smith had twice tried to convince police he had purchased the car from Mitchell before investigators grew suspicious, leading to his confession and arrest a year laterAn Arizona man has received two consecutive life sentences for murdering a couple in 2023 who owned a car that he wanted to purchase, one day after their transaction fell through. The Maricopa County Attorney's Office announced the sentencing last Friday, detailing how investigators were able to tie Alexander Lee Smith to the November 2023 double homicide. According to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office, the 21-year-old man 'forced his way' into the home of Walter Mitchell and Susie Ephrem and shot both of them. Ephrem was able to call 911 but later died from her wounds at a local hospital, while Mitchell died at the scene. The couple's 8-year-old grandson was also home during the deadly break-in but wasn't harmed, according to officials. Prosecutors say Smith met the couple after becoming interested in purchasing Mitchell's Ford Shelby GT500, a high-performance version of a Mustang. Smith was set to buy the luxury car, but Mitchell called off the sale after the 21-year-old's wire transfer did not go through, according to authorities. That night, Mitchell sold the car to a local car dealership, authorities said. The next day, Smith broke into the couple's home and fatally shot them both. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Authorities were still investigating the scene when Smith showed up the next day, telling officers that he worked for a car collector who had purchased the car from Mitchell. Officers turned Smith away, but two weeks later, the 21-year-old man showed up again at the Peoria police station and inquired about the car. The attorney's office said officers realized Smith's story didn't match up with what he'd told detectives at the scene two weeks earlier, and they grew suspicious. GPS records from Smith's phone placed him near the scene on the night of the killings, while detectives were also able to match his fingerprints to the front door handle of the couple's home. Smith was arrested in November 2024 and later pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder, as well as one count of first-degree burglary. 'This was an act driven by greed; even after taking two lives, this defendant continued to lie to police to try to get the car,' Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said in a statement last week. 'Thanks to Peoria Police and MCAO prosecutors, his story unraveled, and he will spend the rest of his life facing the consequences of his choices.' Read the original article on People Solve the daily Crossword
Miami Herald
14-07-2025
- Miami Herald
Man kills couple at home over muscle car, tries to fool cops, AZ officials say
A man accused of breaking into an Arizona couple's home and killing them over a muscle car has been sentenced to prison, according to prosecutors. Investigators say Alexander Lee Smith broke into Walter Mitchell and Susie Ephrem's Peoria home in November 2023 and fatally shot them, the Maricopa County Attorney's Office said in a July 11 news release. The couple's 8-year-old grandson was inside the home but wasn't hurt, the attorney's office said. Mitchell and Ephrem were 52 and 42 years old, KSAZ reported. Ephrem called 911 and officers arrived to find her wounded, though she later died at a hospital, prosecutors said. Mitchell died at the scene. Prosecutors say Smith, who was 20 at the time, had been communicating with Mitchell about buying his Ford Shelby GT500 — which is essentially an upgraded, and much pricier, Ford Mustang. It's not only 'the most powerful Mustang — it's also the most expensive,' according to Car and Driver, with baseline models starting around $80,000 and higher trim levels climbing to nearly $130,000. Classic GT500s can list for much more. Messages between the men show Mitchell was going to sell the car to Smith but 'called off the deal because the wire transfer didn't go through,' prosecutors said. 'That same night, Walter traded the Mustang at a car dealership. He and Susie were killed the next morning,' according to prosecutors. But Smith wasn't ready to give up on acquiring the GT500, prosecutors say. The day after the killing, Smith went to the home and spoke to police, telling them he was there to pick up the GT500 that had been purchased by a car collector who he was working for. That apparently didn't work, so he waited a little while and tried again. 'More than two weeks later, Smith went to the Peoria Police station and asked to speak with detectives about getting the car,' prosecutors said. 'His story did not match what he told detectives at the crime scene the day after the shooting.' Investigation later revealed that police weren't the only ones Smith was trying to fool, according to prosecutors. 'Smith's phone records show that at the same time he was trying to buy the Ford Shelby GT500 from (Mitchell), he was also posing as the car's owner so he could trade it with someone else. Even after the deal had been called off, he told the third party he would trade the car the next day, which was the day of the murder,' prosecutors said. By then the car was already gone, as Mitchell had traded it to a dealership. Investigators found Smith's fingerprints on a door handle at the home, and GPS data shows he was nearby when the shooting happened, prosecutors said. 'This was an act driven by greed; even after taking two lives this defendant continued to lie to police to try to get the car,' Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said. 'Thanks to Peoria Police and MCAO prosecutors, his story unraveled, and he will spend the rest of his life facing the consequences of his choices.' Smith pleaded guilty to two counts of murder and one count of burglary, the prosecutor's office said. He was sentenced to two life sentences, plus 21 years, in prison. Information about his legal representation was not immediately available. Peoria is a northwest suburb of Phoenix.
Hindustan Times
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Aaron Phypers divorce filing reveals Denise Richards' monthly income sources as he seeks spousal support
Denise Richards and Aaron Phypers are officially parting ways after more than six years of marriage. Court documents filed in Los Angeles on Monday revealed that Phypers is seeking a divorce, citing 'irreconcilable differences'' and listing July 4 as the date of separation, reported TMZ. Denise Richards' husband Aaron Phypers filed for divorce.(X/ Denise Richards) Phypers and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star tied the knot in September 2018; they do not share any minor children together. As per a Page Six report, Phypers had previously begun the process of adopting Richards' youngest daughter, Eloise Joni, whom she adopted in 2011 as a single mother. Richards is also the mother to two adult daughters: Sami (21) and Lola (20) from her previous marriage to actor Charlie Sheen. Aaron Phypers seeks spousal support, an equal split of their ENT business Phypers, who reportedly owns a healing centre in Malibu, is requesting spousal support from Richards. In court filings, according to Page Six and TMZ, he estimated she brings in over $250,000 a month from different sources, including OnlyFans, television appearances and brand endorsements. He also claimed to have no income at present. The Page Six report added that the documents offered a glimpse into the couple's lavish lifestyle. Phypers, according to the divorce papers, claimed their monthly expenses total a staggering $105,000, with $20,000 spent on clothes, $18,000 on rent, $15,000 each on entertainment and dining out, $10,000 on groceries and $8,000 on utilities. He alleged that Richards had been covering these costs throughout their relationship. Apart from spousal support, Phypers is also seeking an equal split of their entertainment business: Smoke & Mirrors Entertainment. Additionally, he requested the court confirm that certain personal property belongs solely to him, including power tools, a 2018 Indian Dark Horse motorcycle, and a Ford Shelby GT500. The couple publicly celebrated their sixth anniversary Richards, 53, has not publicly commented on the divorce filing. The actor and reality TV star, who was recently seen filming a new Bravo reality series, Denise Richards & Her Wild Things, has reportedly downsized to a rental apartment in Los Angeles due to financial strain. She and Phypers last publicly celebrated their sixth wedding anniversary in September 2023, with Aaron calling Denise his 'sweetest love.' This will be the second divorce for both Richards and Phypers, who were previously married to Charlie Sheen and Nicollette Sheridan, respectively. ALSO READ: Lights, camera, drama! Denise Richards dropping hints for a shocking Real Housewives of Beverly Hills return FAQs Q: When did Aaron Phypers file for divorce from Denise Richards? A: He filed for divorce on July 8, 2025, citing irreconcilable differences. Q: Why is Aaron Phypers seeking spousal support? A: Phypers claims he has no income, while Richards allegedly earns over $250,000 a month and pays for their $105K monthly lifestyle. Q: Do Denise Richards and Aaron Phypers have children together? A: No, they don't have biological children together, but Phypers began adopting Denise's daughter, Eloise, in 2019. Q: What is Denise Richards' source of income? A: Her income reportedly comes from OnlyFans, TV appearances, brand deals and other entertainment ventures.
1736404008-0%2FUntitled-design-(3)1736404008-0-640x480.webp&w=3840&q=100)
Express Tribune
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Denise Richards' husband Aaron Phypers files for divorce
Denise Richards and her husband, Aaron Phypers, have officially filed for divorce after more than six years of marriage. As per TMZ, Phypers submitted court documents on Monday in Los Angeles, citing "irreconcilable differences" as the reason for the split. According to the filing, the couple separated on July 4, 2025. The couple, who have been together since 2018, do not share any minor children. In the divorce documents, Phypers is seeking spousal support from Richards, estimating that she is earning over $250,000 a month from various sources, including her OnlyFans account, TV appearances, brand deals, and other public engagements. Phypers, on the other hand, claims that he has no income. The court filings also provide a glimpse into their lifestyle and spending habits. Phypers claims that the couple has been spending an average of $105,000 a month, including $20,000 on clothes, $18,000 on rent, $15,000 on dining out, $15,000 on entertainment, and $10,000 on groceries. He further claims that Richards has been covering the expenses. In addition to seeking spousal support, Phypers is requesting that the court confirm ownership of several assets, including power tools, a 2018 Indian Dark Horse motorcycle, and a Ford Shelby GT500. This marks the second divorce for Richards, who previously ended her marriage to actor Charlie Sheen. Phypers, a former actor and businessman, was also previously married to actress Nicollette Sheridan.
