Elena

@ecsantacruz3

pronounced like helena but drop the h / @azcentral criminal justice reporter / asu alum 🔱

Phoenix, AZ

Joined January 2021

263Following

600Followers

Elena@ecsantacruz3 · 13 h

I have loved Vanessa Kirby since The Crown, though I also liked her small appearance in Me Before You. But I love her 100000x more now, especially as Sue Storm 😭

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Elena@ecsantacruz3 · 18 h

The Gilbert In-N-Out Burger continues to be a spot where young people congregate and engage in reckless behavior. It’s been the site of fights, fireworks and gang beatings. What to know @azcentral azcentral.com/story/news/loc…

ecsantacruz3's tweet card. On two separate weekends in July, the Gilbert In-N-Out Burger was the scene of a teen group fight and a post-house party fireworks display.

Elena@ecsantacruz3 · Jul 25

BREAKING — Brady Kiser, the husband of social media influencer Emilie Kiser, will not face a criminal charge in their son’s drowning death. Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell cited “no reasonable likelihood of conviction” @azcentral azcentral.com/story/news/loc…

ecsantacruz3's tweet card. The husband of social media influencer Emilie Kiser will not face a criminal charge in the drowning death of their 3-year-old son, Trigg.

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Elena@ecsantacruz3 · Jul 23

The Gilbert In-N-Out Burger continues to be a chaotic spot for teens. Over 150 of them were there when fireworks were set off in the restaurant’s parking lot on July 19. No arrests have been made. By @PerryVandell for @azcentral azcentral.com/story/news/loc…

ecsantacruz3's tweet card. Fireworks were set off on July 19 as teens swarmed the Gilbert In-N-Out Burger, a common backdrop for southeast Valley beatdowns that go viral.

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Elena@ecsantacruz3 · Jul 21

The Legislature created an independent prison oversight board that criminal justice advocates pursued for years. But it lacks the necessary funding to begin its work. ⁦@azcentral⁩ azcentral.com/story/news/loc…

ecsantacruz3's tweet card. Republican legislators have attacked Gov. Katie Hobbs over a major hurdle to the office's operations.

Elena Retweeted

Jimmy Jenkins@JimmyJenkins · Jul 17

Thank you for welcoming me into your homes and your lives. Thank you for supporting the newsrooms I've worked in. Thank you for trusting me. Thank you for teaching me. Thank you for believing in me. It has been the greatest honor of my life to be your reporter. Jimmy

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Elena Retweeted

Jimmy Jenkins@JimmyJenkins · Jul 17

Dear Arizona, Today was my last day with @azcentral. I am very grateful to have worked at The Republic and @kjzzphoenix for the past decade. I have accepted a new reporting job in Washington D.C. I'll have details and new contact info to share soon. Until then, thank you.

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Elena@ecsantacruz3 · Jul 16

Chandler police had been considering the child abuse charge against the husband of social media influencer, Emilie Kiser, since before the death of their 3-year-old son, court records show. Trigg Kiser died May 18, days after he drowned. @azcentral azcentral.com/story/news/loc…

ecsantacruz3's tweet card. Police submitted a criminal charge against the husband of social media influencer Emilie Kiser in the drowning death of their 3-year-old son, Trigg.

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Elena@ecsantacruz3 · Jul 16

New: Chandler police have recommended a felony child abuse charge for the husband of social media influencer Emilie Kiser in the drowning death of their 3-year-old son, Trigg. Prosecutors will review the case. @azcentral azcentral.com/story/news/loc…

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Elena@ecsantacruz3 · Jul 14

The trial for the Preston Lord murder case was pushed to January 2026 despite pleas from his parents. Defense lawyers for months said a July 2025 trial date was unrealistic. But a lawyer for Lord’s parents said they were “eager” for the trial to start. azcentral.com/story/news/loc…

ecsantacruz3's tweet card. A Maricopa County judge set the new trial date during a July 14 hearing. He said the delay was "indispensable to the interests of justice."

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Elena Retweeted

Robert Anglen@robertanglen · Jul 14

INVESTIGATION: “She said he started grooming her when she was 14.” Sexual harassment allegations against Mesa Community College theater director accused of making students strip for midterm span decades. Story @azcentral azcentral.com/story/news/loc…

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Elena@ecsantacruz3 · Jul 12

It's been about two months since the 3-year-old son of social media influencer Emilie Kiser died, and investigators said in a new court filing that their work could not conclude unless they were allowed to exchange information. @azcentral azcentral.com/story/news/loc…

ecsantacruz3's tweet card. A recent court filing sheds light on the police and medical examiner investigations into the Chandler drowning death of influencer Emilie Kiser's son.

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Caitlin McGlade@CaitMcGlade · Jul 10

Just in case someone on here sees this who is a) in AZ and b) worked a job where the AC broke and things got unbearably hot: I’d love to hear from you. Send me a DM here or email me at [email protected]

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Elena@ecsantacruz3 · Jul 9

Preston Lord beating death: judge decides Talyn Vigil’s case will not go back to a grand jury. The judge said Vigil’s defense team criticized the state’s initial presentation because evidence wasn’t presented how they wanted — but it was fair. @azcentral azcentral.com/story/news/loc…

ecsantacruz3's tweet card. Talyn Vigil, one of seven people charged with murder in Preston Lord's death, argued prosecutors omitted details in their grand jury presentation.

Elena@ecsantacruz3 · Jul 8

After a monthslong national search, Phoenix named Matt Giordano of AZPOST as its new police chief. Giordano previously worked for the department and has never been a police chief. But he previously said he has loads of valuable experience. @azcentral azcentral.com/story/news/loc…

ecsantacruz3's tweet card. City Manager Jeff Barton named Matt Giordano, executive director of the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board, as police chief.

Elena@ecsantacruz3 · Jul 8

New: Talyn Vigil is now the second person charged in the beating death of Preston Lord to agree to settle a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Lord’s parents. @azcentral azcentral.com/story/news/loc…

ecsantacruz3's tweet card. Lawyers for Talyn Vigil, 19, said in a July 3 court filing that his "case has settled."

Elena@ecsantacruz3 · Jul 8

UPDATE: A Gilbert police spokesperson told The Republic another arrest was made July 6 and that the videos were taken after an initial assault by the girl who appears to be the victim in the videos. azcentral.com/story/news/loc…

ecsantacruz3's tweet card. Gilbert police arrested two teen girls in connection with a group assault at the town's In-N-Out Burger. The "Gilbert Goons" often fought there.

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Elena@ecsantacruz3 · Jul 7

Another teen group beating at the Gilbert In-N-Out was captured on video over the weekend. Police made one arrest but two other girls are seen beating the victim in the videos, which were provided to The Republic. @azcentral azcentral.com/story/news/loc…

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Elena@ecsantacruz3 · Jul 2

Death of Rafael Montoya, who was knocked unconscious by a security guard outside a Phoenix nightclub while off-duty police officers stood by, officially ruled a homicide. Still no arrests in the March assault, which was captured on video. @robertanglen azcentral.com/story/news/loc…

ecsantacruz3's tweet card. The death of a man beaten by a private security guard outside a Phoenix nightclub while off-duty police officers stood by was ruled a homicide.

Elena@ecsantacruz3 · Jul 1

Gilbert resident whose barn was burned down by the ‘Morrison Ranch Marauders’ accused Gilbert police of a conflict of interest, cover-up and betrayal. By @robertanglen @maritzacdom and Sean Holstege for @azcentral azcentral.com/story/news/loc…

ecsantacruz3's tweet card. Jeni Jones and LeeAnn Slade of Gilbert both had "mortar" fireworks lobbed onto their property. They aren't happy with the overall police response.