John Jonchuck Won't Face Death Penalty In Daughter's Death

ST. PETERSBURG, FL - John Jonchuck, the man accused of throwing his 5-year-old daughter off the Dick Misener Bridge to her death in 2015, won't face the death penalty, the Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney’s Office confirmed Monday.

Assistant State Attorney Doug Ellis said during a hearing in the Jonchuck case that the state has elected to waive the death penalty. Jonchuck is charged with first-degree murder in the death of his daughter Phoebe Jonchuck.

Authorities say that Johnchuck dropped his daughter off the Dick Misener Bridge in St. Petersburg. Phoebe's final hours began to unfold about midnight on Jan. 8, 2015 when off-duty St. Petersburg Police Officer William Vickers was passed by a car doing 100 mph. Vickers gave chase, but the car, which officers say was driven by John Jonchuck, had a lead on him.

As the man neared the top of the Dick Misener Bridge, on the approach to the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, Vickers watched as the car stopped, John Jonchuck got out and threw Phoebe into the water below, according to authorities.

Jonchuck then got back into his Chrysler PT Cruiser and took off into Manatee County where authorities there stopped him near the University Parkway exit, according to authorities.

A search for the child was launched with U.S. Coast Guard assistance. Phoebe was located and attempts were made to resuscitate her. She later died at a local hospital.

Photo Credit: John Jonchuck/Pinellas County Jail