Father arrested after 9-year-old son found dead in Arizona

PIMA COUNTY, Arizona – A 9-year-old boy was found dead near Tucson Sunday afternoon and the child’s father has been arrested.

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department said officers were dispatched to the area of ​​Orange Grove Road and Pelto Path, where they found a dead child inside a residence.

Officials said the boy had been lying dead on a couch for “an extended period of time.” The sheriff’s department did not disclose how the child died.

The boy’s father, 38-year-old Joseph Antonsen, was questioned and taken into custody. He is accused of negligent homicide and child abuse.

>> Download the 12News app to get the latest local breaking news delivered straight to your phone.

Catch up on the latest news and stories on the 12News YouTube channel. Subscribe today.

Locals call the Phoenix metropolitan area “The Valley.” It is considered the largest metropolitan area in the southwest.

In addition to Phoenix, the valley consists of several major cities, including:

• Table Mountain
• Chandler
• Scottsdale
• Tempe
• Glendale
• Surprise
• Peoria
• Gilbert
• El Mirage
• Avondale
• Litchfield Park
• Good year
• buckeye

Whether a city is in the “East Valley” or “West Valley” depends on its location in relation to Phoenix.

According to the 2020 U.S. Census, the valley’s cities have a total population of 4,845,832, making it the 11th-largest metropolitan area in the country, just behind the Boston and Atlanta areas.

How big is Maricopa County?

According to the 2020 census, Maricopa County is the fourth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 4,485,414.

The county is home to approximately 63% of Arizona’s population and has an area of ​​9,224 square miles, making it larger than seven U.S. states (Rhode Island, Delaware, Connecticut, Hawaii, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire).

One of the largest park systems in the country is also located in Maricopa County. The county has an estimated 120,000 acres of open park space with hundreds of miles of hiking trails, nature centers and campgrounds.

The county seat is in Phoenix, which is also the state capital and, according to the census, the fifth-largest city in the United States.

The district was named after the Maricopa or Piipaash Indian tribe.