Sun City home linked to two deadly investigations

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 10 Oct, 02:19 · Archive

A Sun City home has been connected to a tenant's death and a later apparent murder-suicide.

A Sun City home has been connected to two deadly incidents. George Crater, who owned the property, was convicted in April of murdering his tenant, 72-year-old Thomas Galatola. However, a judge dismissed the conviction this week without prejudice after ruling that Crater's defence team had not been informed that the sheriff's detective in the case was under misconduct investigation.

Court records say Crater flew from Washington to the Phoenix area two years ago, entered his home through the garage and confronted Galatola over unpaid rent. He allegedly tied the tenant with zip ties, beat him with the zip ties and his fist, kicked him and stabbed him with a kitchen knife. Galatola identified Crater in a photo lineup before falling into a coma. He died from blunt force trauma to the head.

Prosecutors refiled the murder charges after Crater's release, and he was arrested again on Wednesday. A judge has set his cash appearance bond at $1 million, with a court hearing scheduled for next week.

In June 2025, deputies responded to reports of gunfire at the same property, near 99th Avenue and Bell Road. Three people had been shot. Two were killed and a third hospitalised in what investigators later described as a murder-suicide.

How it is being reported

• Sun City home linked to two deadly investigationsA Sun City home has been connected to two deadly investigations: the alleged deadly beating of a tenant by his landlord and a later apparent murder-suicide that left two people dead.KOLD · 10 Oct, 01:34
• Sun City home linked to two deadly investigationsA Sun City home has been connected to two deadly investigations: the alleged deadly beating of a tenant by his landlord and a later apparent murder-suicide that left two people dead.Azfamily · 10 Oct, 01:34

In this story: George Crater · Thomas Galatola · Sun City · Phoenix · Washington

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