The Amber Hess murder case involves the June 2007 killing of 17-year-old Amber LeAnn Hess inside her Queen Creek, Arizona home by two 16-year-old classmates, Todd Hoke and Nicolas Castillo, while her parents were away for the weekend. Hoke was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison, then died by suicide in a Florence prison in 2013. Castillo pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, received 24 years, and has been pursuing resentencing.
What Happened Inside the Hess Home
Amber Hess had just graduated from Coolidge High School in May 2007 and was working at a Sonic drive-in with plans to start at Mesa Community College.1Legacy.com. Amber LeAnn Hess Obituary On Friday, June 22, 2007, her parents, Mike and Candy Hess, left town. According to investigators, Hoke and Castillo, both classmates who lived within blocks of the Hess home, had been planning to kill her for about two weeks.2East Valley Tribune. Police Say Teens Plotted Murder of Queen Creek Girl
The three teens were watching a movie together when, according to court documents, Hoke signaled Castillo to attack. Castillo used an electrical cord to choke Hess, but she broke free and tried to run. Hoke grabbed her by the hair, pulled her down, and struck her with a flashlight. Castillo stabbed her in the chest with a small kitchen knife, and Hoke then took the knife and stabbed her several times in the neck. An autopsy identified the cause of death as a stab wound to the heart.3PinalCentral. 10 Years After Brutal Pinal Murder, Defendant Seeks Resentencing
The two then drove her body to a desert area northwest of Florence and set it on fire. The remains were burned from the head down to about mid-thigh and were later identified through dental records.4NBC News. Two Arizona Teens Arrested in Girl’s Killing
How Investigators Found the Killers
Mike and Candy Hess came home on Sunday, June 24, 2007, to a bloody kitchen, missing bedding, blood-soaked paper towels in the trash, and a pillowcase covering a kitchen window. Amber was gone. They called the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office. The next day, charred remains were found in the desert north of Coolidge.3PinalCentral. 10 Years After Brutal Pinal Murder, Defendant Seeks Resentencing
An anonymous tip pointed investigators toward the two boys, who had been trying to obtain cleaning supplies after the killing. Detectives located Hess’s missing car parked a couple of homes away from one of the suspects, interviewed both teens, and served search warrants that turned up fingerprints and weapons tying them to the crime.2East Valley Tribune. Police Say Teens Plotted Murder of Queen Creek Girl4NBC News. Two Arizona Teens Arrested in Girl’s Killing
Both were arrested on Wednesday, June 27, 2007, and charged with first-degree murder. Arizona law required the county attorney to prosecute them as adults because juveniles ages 15 to 17 accused of first-degree murder must be charged in adult court.5Arizona Legislature. A.R.S. § 13-501 Each was held on $1 million bond.4NBC News. Two Arizona Teens Arrested in Girl’s Killing
The Stated Motive
Pinal County Sheriff Chris Vasquez put the motive plainly: the suspects “basically they just didn’t like her and for whatever reason were planning to kill her.” Candy Hess told reporters that Hoke had been one of her daughter’s closest friends and was treated by the family “like a brother,” and that the two had recently had a falling-out, though the nature of it was not made public.4NBC News. Two Arizona Teens Arrested in Girl’s Killing
The autopsy also raised a separate question. Examiners initially suspected Hess had been pregnant after finding placenta and umbilical cord tissue in her uterus, but the Pima County Medical Examiner clarified that no fetus was present and that the pregnancy, estimated at about 10 weeks, appeared to have been terminated within 24 hours of her death. Pinal County prosecutors said they did not plan to file additional charges tied to the pregnancy.6Arizona Daily Star. Details Emerge in Amber Hess Case A later Investigation Discovery episode reported that investigators had theorized the motive involved Hess being pregnant with Hoke’s child.7PinalCentral. Brutal Pinal Murder Featured on True Crime TV Show
Convictions and Sentences
The two cases went different directions. Todd Hoke was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison in 2010.8KTAR News. AZDOC Inmate Serving Life Sentence Found Dead Nicolas Castillo pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of second-degree murder and received a 24-year sentence. The specific terms of his plea deal were not made public.3PinalCentral. 10 Years After Brutal Pinal Murder, Defendant Seeks Resentencing
On October 21, 2013, Hoke was found dead in his cell at a state prison in Florence. He was 22. The Arizona Department of Corrections reported the death as a believed suicide.8KTAR News. AZDOC Inmate Serving Life Sentence Found Dead
Castillo’s Push for Resentencing
Castillo has sought to have his sentence reconsidered. He filed a notice for post-conviction relief arguing that his sentencing was unconstitutional because the trial court did not adequately weigh his young age, 19 at the time of sentencing, as a mitigating factor. His filing cited precedent requiring courts to determine whether a juvenile offender’s crimes reflect “transient immaturity” rather than “permanent incorrigibility.”3PinalCentral. 10 Years After Brutal Pinal Murder, Defendant Seeks Resentencing
The Pinal County Attorney’s Office opposed the petition, arguing the 24-year sentence remained constitutionally appropriate. The case has moved through the appellate courts. A May 2026 Arizona Supreme Court agenda listed the matter, styled State of Arizona v. Ronald David Castillo, as a pending petition for review of a Court of Appeals decision, meaning the lower courts had ruled and Castillo was seeking further review.9Arizona Courts. Arizona Supreme Court Petition Review Agenda Castillo remains incarcerated at a state prison in Buckeye, Arizona.3PinalCentral. 10 Years After Brutal Pinal Murder, Defendant Seeks Resentencing