November 6, 200322 yr ESPN.com news services MESA, Ariz. -- Cincinnati Reds outfielder Dernell Stenson was shot then dragged to his death behind a pick-up truck early Wednesday morning, Chandler police confirmed to The East Valley Tribune. Stenson, who played in 37 games for the Reds this season, was in Arizona where he played with the Scottsdale Scorpions in the Arizona Fall League. His body was found in the street near Dobson Road and Chandler Blvd., said Chandler police Sgt. Mark Franzen. Chandler police are investigating the shooting deaths of Stenson and another man, both of which occurred within two days of each other and about a mile apart, according to the newspaper. Police do not have any evidence that would link the two deaths, stated Chandler police detective Emma Bribiescas. Arizona Fall League officials canceled Wednesday and Thursday's games in the wake of the incident. "This is really awful," said Davona Vojovich, a friend of Stenson's who was outside Scottsdale Stadium when she was told of the incident, "I can't believe this happened." Residents told police they saw the man thrown off a black sport utility vehicle about 1:45 a.m. It appeared he had been shot and run over by the vehicle. Residents were able to provide police with a description of the vehicle. A short time later, police located an SUV matching that description in Mesa. Bribiescas said police impounded the SUV and are interviewing the driver, but she would not say whether he was a suspect. The other death was discovered earlier, about 7:40 p.m. Monday, when another set of Chandler residents found the body of a man slumped over the driver seat of a 1996 Buick, Bribiescas said. The 23-year-old man had died of a gunshot wound. Stenson, of LaGrange Ga., hit .247 with three home runs and 13 RBIs in 37 games with Reds this season. He was a third-round draft pick of the Boston Red Sox in 1996 and played briefly with Boston during the 2002 season. He was claimed off waivers by Cincinnati on March 1. I'd don't know what to add to that. I really don't.
November 6, 200322 yr thats awful news, he was one of my favorite players my condolences to his family
November 6, 200322 yr i liked the way Stenson played. i was really looking forward to seeing him the Reds this season...this is horrible.....
November 6, 200322 yr how could this have happened? the # of sports tragedies is only increasing, just like tragedies all over u.s.
November 6, 200322 yr Well my cousin died earlier this year she was17 years old,a junior at hialeah high,and some advice to the stenson family is don't worry everything will be allright even though now theres gonna be someone missing you'll be allright,my prayers go to the stenson family,dam dernell sorry it had to be this way r.i.p dernell,peez we'll always be your friends man,peez bro.
November 7, 200322 yr I was watching the local news last night when they said he'd been murdered. I started crying. The whole state of Arizona is in such shock over this death. I feel so bad for his family, friends, and his team.
November 8, 200322 yr this story keeps getting worse.... CHANDLER, Ariz. -- Reds outfielder Dernell Stenson was shot execution-style, with his hands and feet bound, sources familar to the police investigation told the East Valley (Ariz.) Tribune Friday. Stenson's hands were bound with plastic handcuffs and his feet were tied together with shoelaces, sources told the newspaper. Stenson, who had been playing in the Arizona Fall League, was found dead Wednesday in the Phoenix suburb of Chandler. He had been shot and run over and apparently dragged by his own SUV. Reginald Riddle of Harvey, Ill., was arrested for investigation of first-degree murder, armed robbery, kidnapping and burglary but hadn't formally been charged Friday. According to court records, Riddle admitted in an interview with police that he was involved in the death of Stenson. Several hours after Stenson's body was found, Riddle's half brother, Kevin Riddle, 43, was stopped by police while driving Stenson's SUV, police said. Authorities were still looking for another man identified as a suspect in the case, 20-year-old transient David Griffith, said Chandler police Sgt. Mark Franzen. Police consider Griffith armed and dangerous. According to the Arizona Department if Corrections, Griffith was released from prison 10 months ago after serving nearly two years for car theft. Reginald Riddle is being held on $500,000 cash bail and could face homicide, armed robbery and kidnapping charges, according to court documents obtained by the Tribune. The Riddles recently arrived in the Valley after driving cross country from Illinois, police told the paper. According to court documents obtained by the paper, Mesa police spotted Kevin Riddle about two hours after the killing as he was leaving an apartment complex. Kevin Riddle told police he found the SUV, keys in the ignition, in the complex parking lot. Police still have no motive for the killing. espn.com
November 10, 200322 yr My boyfriend and I went to Phoenix on Saturday to attend the Coyotes/Anaheim Mighty Ducks hockey game. On the way, we stopped in Chandler to pick up some things his mom had requested him to send to her in Albuquerque, and as we were driving along, we passed the exact intersection that Dernell had been murdered at. My boyfriend, not being into baseball but usually up on the sports news, was very shocked when I told him about the murder. He even agreed that these three men should all receive life without parole for their heinous crimes. RIP Dernell First, Darryl Kile...now, Dernell Stenson...They will be sorely missed!!!
November 11, 200322 yr this story keeps getting worse.... CHANDLER, Ariz. -- Reds outfielder Dernell Stenson was shot execution-style, with his hands and feet bound, sources familar to the police investigation told the East Valley (Ariz.) Tribune Friday. Stenson's hands were bound with plastic handcuffs and his feet were tied together with shoelaces, sources told the newspaper. Stenson, who had been playing in the Arizona Fall League, was found dead Wednesday in the Phoenix suburb of Chandler. He had been shot and run over and apparently dragged by his own SUV. Reginald Riddle of Harvey, Ill., was arrested for investigation of first-degree murder, armed robbery, kidnapping and burglary but hadn't formally been charged Friday. According to court records, Riddle admitted in an interview with police that he was involved in the death of Stenson. Several hours after Stenson's body was found, Riddle's half brother, Kevin Riddle, 43, was stopped by police while driving Stenson's SUV, police said. Authorities were still looking for another man identified as a suspect in the case, 20-year-old transient David Griffith, said Chandler police Sgt. Mark Franzen. Police consider Griffith armed and dangerous. According to the Arizona Department if Corrections, Griffith was released from prison 10 months ago after serving nearly two years for car theft. Reginald Riddle is being held on $500,000 cash bail and could face homicide, armed robbery and kidnapping charges, according to court documents obtained by the Tribune. The Riddles recently arrived in the Valley after driving cross country from Illinois, police told the paper. According to court documents obtained by the paper, Mesa police spotted Kevin Riddle about two hours after the killing as he was leaving an apartment complex. Kevin Riddle told police he found the SUV, keys in the ignition, in the complex parking lot. Police still have no motive for the killing. espn.com Damn.....That's real bad....The dudes that did that need life in prison. His famliy just needs to move on and know he's in a better place and that they will see him again. You can't sit and do nothing and just cry all day about it you need to move on. When my mama died I would just cry all day but I realized crying wasn't gonna bring her back so I just moved on and kept saying to myself I was going to see her again. My condolences go out to Dernell's famliy.
November 11, 200322 yr I have had the chance to see Dernell play here in the Arizona fall league this year and I was able to get his autograph too. He seemed like a down to earth type person. He will surely be missed.
November 24, 200322 yr CHANDLER, Ariz. -- Chandler police detectives searched the home of Cincinnati Reds outfielder Dernell Stenson's former girlfriend. Jennifer Gaddis cooperated with detectives Friday morning while they searched her Indianapolis house and removed items, according to Chandler police. Police did not say what items were confiscated. Police are calling Gaddis an investigative lead in Stenson's death. According to police reports, Gaddis sent threatening text messages to Stenson's cell phone two weeks before he was kidnapped and killed. "U better pray I never see you U again, I swear Dernell U R worth a murder charge 4 & that is all U R worth," one message said. Stenson was kidnapped in a robbery of his sports utility vehicle and killed while trying to escape, police said. Stenson, who had been playing in the Arizona Fall League, was found dead Nov. 5 after a night out with friends. Four men have been arrested in connection with Stenson's death.
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