Clarkdale police arrested two people on the evening of Thursday, Nov. 19, in connection with a homicide investigation of 67-year-old Marc Alan Fretty in the Rincon Drive neighborhood in Clarkdale.
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| Troy Freeman Hockett, 46 |
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| Melinda Jane Ezell, 44 |
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| Marc Alan Fretty, 67 |
Troy Freeman Hockett, 46, of Clarkdale, was identified as a person of interest and suspect in Fretty’s death. Hockett was interviewed and booked into Yavapai County Detention Center in Camp Verde on one count each of second-degree murder, concealment of a dead body and tampering with physical evidence.
Court records indicate Hocket was also charged Nov. 19 with possession of dangerous drugs with intent to sell and paraphenalia.
Melinda Jane Ezell, 44, of Tulsa, Okla., was also identified as a person of interest. She was interviewed and booked into Yavapai County Detention Center on one count of hindering prosecution in the first degree involving murder.
While the Clarkdale police press stated Ezell was from Oklahoma, she has lived and worked in the Cottonwood area since at least 2007 and has family in the Verde Valley.
Ezell, under her maiden surname of Blair, has numerous civil court rulings against Hockett in 1997, 2002 and 2006.
Fretty’s identity was withheld pending positive identification of his body and an autopsy report. The Yavapai County Medical Examiner’s Office identified Fretty as the victim late Friday, Nov. 20. Clarkdale police have not yet released details about how Fretty died.
Clarkdale police were assisted by the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office, Yavapai County Attorney’s Office and detectives with the Gang & Immigration Intelligence Team Enforcement Mission task force. Detectives are still involved in speaking to people and processing the crime scene.
The Clarkdale Police Department would like residents to know there is no ongoing danger to the community. If anyone believes they have information pertinent to this investigation, they are asked to contact Sgt. Joe Candelaria with the Clarkdale Police Department.
Updates will be provided by press releases and Facebook posts by the Clarkdale Police Department.
