Prosecutor: Arizona man who killed family of three charged

PHOENIX — Charges have been filed against a man who allegedly killed a family of three related to Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, authorities said Thursday.

Brian Alexander Torres-Perez, now 22, is said to have killed the two young parents and their eleven-month-old daughter on December 16, 2022.

Cooper Lamb, 20, and his fiancée Caroline Brooke Patten died in hospital after the accident.

The couple’s daughter, Elaine, died at the scene of the accident.

“Lainey was such a happy baby. She was quiet, always smiling, loved her mommy and daddy dearly, and had just learned to walk,” Elaine’s obituary reads.

What charges does the man who allegedly killed a family of three face?

Torres-Perez was charged with three counts of manslaughter, a second-degree felony.

According to Gilbert police, he was driving his Chevrolet Silverado 70 mph in a 45 mph zone before the crash.

He then allegedly rammed the Toyota Corolla driven by Lamb’s fiancé.

“Our hearts are broken,” Mark Lamb said in a Facebook post a day after the crash.

According to MCAO, excessive speed as well as alcohol and other drugs contributed to the accident.

Gilbert police said Torres-Perez had marijuana and alcohol in his system. His blood alcohol content was reported to be 0.03, which is below the legal limit.

Gilbert police presented the case to the MCAO in February 2023. According to Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell, prosecutors reviewed the evidence in detail.

“This defendant’s reckless disregard for life has wiped out an entire family,” Mitchell said in a press release. “After a comprehensive review of the evidence, it is time to hold Torres-Perez accountable for his actions.”

According to MCAO, a grand jury warrant was recently issued for his arrest. He is currently in the custody of the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office on $150,000 bail.