Full Breakdown
Arizona Man Charged with Murder After Friend Tied Diabetic Amputee to Wheelchair and Left Him in 105-Degree Heat
7/1/2026, 12:52:59 AM
Incident Overview
On June 25, 2024, 33-year-old Aaron Goodyke, a diabetic amputee, was restrained in a wheelchair, his hands bound with plastic bags, and left beside a canal in Maricopa County, Arizona, where temperatures exceeded 105 °F. He was later found dead at the scene.
Victim Background and Living Situation
Goodyke, who had a left-leg below-knee amputation in April 2026, was staying with the mother of his friend Hector Corrales after being evicted from a hotel. According to Corrales’ mother, Gloria, his health declined as he refused food and drink in the days before the incident.
Timeline of Events
- June 25 – Corrales and the unidentified friend attempted to transport Goodyke to a Phoenix hospital; he became combative.
- They placed him in a wheelchair, bound his hands with plastic bags, tilted the wheelchair backwards, causing him to hit the back of his head, then wheeled him to a canal and left him there.
- 8:34 p.m. – Police responded after witnesses found Goodyke slouched in the wheelchair with his pants around his ankles; witnesses reported he was alive but later died.
- Corrales was booked on first-degree murder and kidnapping charges; the second participant remains unidentified.
Official Statements & Responses
A police affidavit states that Corrales and the friend forcibly restrained Goodyke, tied his hands with plastic bags, and left him exposed to extreme heat. The affidavit cites Gloria’s cellphone video as evidence and notes that Corrales faces first-degree murder and kidnapping charges; the friend has not been identified.
Criticism & Opposition
The unidentified friend’s statement that Goodyke “was fine” directly opposes witness accounts describing him as alive but deteriorating and later dead, highlighting a dispute over the victim’s condition at the time of restraint.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The affidavit does not disclose the friend’s identity, motive, or why Goodyke was left at the canal after being restrained. These omissions create a critical investigative gap.
Verbatim Quotes
- “was fine,” — Unidentified friend, role: friend of Hector Corrales and Aaron Goodyke
- “He was slouched in the wheelchair with his pants around his ankles,” — Police affidavit (witness description)
- “alive at the time and was mumbling and moving his hands and leg,” — Police affidavit (witness description)
- “During an interview with Aaron's biological mother, she stated that [he] was a diabetic and had his left leg amputated below the knee in April 2026,” — Aaron’s biological mother (as quoted in affidavit)
Next Steps in the Investigation
Maricopa County authorities continue to search for the unidentified friend, review the cellphone video, and assess whether additional charges are warranted. Corrales remains detained.
