Scottsdale police say a man suspected in a string of six Valley murders used to play tennis with one of his victims.
According to Scottsdale police, Mary Simmons, who was found dead at a Fountain Hills home near Golden Eagle Boulevard and Sunridge Drive Monday, met Jones four to five years ago through tennis, and the two would occasionally meet to play at local parks.
Bryon Thomas was also found dead Monday morning at the Fountain Hills residence. Police say Thomas and Jones also had a "social/recreational relationship."
Jones died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound as police converged on his Scottsdale hotel Monday morning.
Police say a 40 caliber Glock handgun that was recovered in the room has been ballistically linked to the death of prominent forensic psychiatrist Steven Pitt, as well as the deaths of paralegals Veleria Sharp and Laura Anderson, and life coach Marshall Levine.
On Wednesday, deputies from the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office were investigating a burglary that happened at the Fountain Hills home where Simmons and Thomas were found dead.
A longtime friend of the couple, Caleb Harrell, who lives in Nevada is still shocked they're gone.
"They were murdered," Harrell said. "Wow. My friends, you know?"
"I'm upset about this whole thing because out of all people, why them?" Harrell said. "I couldn't understand. I'm just really baffled by this whole thing."
"I can't say enough about him," Harrell said. "He was like a big brother to me. Mary, she was just a sweetheart. She had a good heart."
Click on each point in the map below for more detailed information about each homicide, as well as the apparent suicide location of the suspect.
