Mesa homicide detectives have released surveillance imagery and a description of a man they believe may be connected to the death of 47-year-old Jerry Dietch, whose body was discovered in an alley in east Mesa in the early hours of May 12, 2025. Officers were summoned to an alley near the intersection of Hibbert and Broadway Road at approximately 6:30 a.m., where investigators located Dietch and determined he had sustained obvious signs of trauma. Detectives said they believe he was killed the night before, but have withheld details of how he died to avoid revealing specifics of the investigation.
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Authorities have circulated a still image captured by a nearby security camera showing an unidentified man in the vicinity around the time investigators believe the crime occurred. The man is seen wearing a light-colored hoodie, dark pants and dark shoes. Detectives noted the individual’s distinctive gait in the footage and are asking members of the public to study the image and come forward with any information that could help identify him.
Security camera image released by Mesa police showing a hooded man in a light-colored hoodie and dark pants near the scene; investigators ask the public to identify this suspect in the May 2025 homicide of Jerry Dietch.
Investigators have said that the suspect seen on video appeared to be wearing gloves, a detail they highlighted as significant. "They were wearing gloves. And so it appears that this may have been intentional. And so we're looking for anybody that recognized that person's mannerisms or recognizes something that fits during that time frame that they can point us to that we can investigate," Homicide Detective J. Ingram said, adding that the victim’s family is seeking closure. Detectives further indicated they believe the victim and the person in the video did not know one another prior to the incident.
Police have reiterated that they are not releasing specifics about the manner of death so as not to compromise investigative leads, but emphasized that the visible injuries amounted to clear trauma. That decision to limit details is a common investigative practice intended to preserve the integrity of evidence and to prevent potential suspects from being tipped off to aspects of the inquiry. Investigators continue to process the scene and review available footage, seeking any additional images or information from the neighborhood that could help establish a timeline of events.
Mesa detectives are urging anyone who recognizes the man in the surveillance image, or who may have been in the area near Hibbert and Broadway around the night of May 11 into the early morning of May 12, to contact investigators. Tips can also be provided anonymously through Silent Witness. Authorities did not provide a phone number in their public release but asked witnesses or anyone with relevant information to reach out directly to Mesa police or to the established tip line.
The release of the image is part of an active effort to generate leads in a case that has left the victim’s family and the community seeking answers. Investigators are following up on tips and continue to canvass the area for additional surveillance footage, witnesses, and any other material that may assist in identifying the person seen on video. Detectives stressed the importance of small details — a particular gait, clothing features, or a familiar route — any of which could help corroborate the identity of the individual captured in the footage.
Officials reiterated that the family wants closure and that the department is committed to pursuing every viable lead. For now, detectives are relying on the community to review the released image and consider whether they recognize the clothing, the manner of walking, or any other identifying traits. Those with information are asked to contact Mesa police or Silent Witness so investigators can continue building the case and provide answers to the victim’s relatives and the wider community.
More than a year later, Mesa police released new surveillance video on July 16, 2026, showing the hooded figure pacing near parked cars before running from the Hibbert and Broadway area in the stabbing death of Dietch. Detectives urge tips at 480-644-2211 or through Silent Witness. Reported by azfamily.com and 12News.
Silent Witness accepts anonymous tips at 480‑WITNESS (480‑948‑6377) or 480‑TESTIGO (480‑837‑8446 for Spanish), and tips can also be submitted via its P3tips mobile app or the Silent Witness website. The organization states callers remain anonymous and that rewards of up to $2,000 may be offered when a tip leads to an arrest or indictment in a homicide case.