Home searched, person of interest detained in Careccia disappearance

Tina and Michael Careccia have not been found, but Pinal County Sheriff’s personnel are working into the night investigating a home just two streets away.

PCSO spokesman Mark Clark said one man was taken into custody nearby and is regarded as a person of interest in the case. He is being questioned but is not under arrest, Clark said.

PCSO served search warrants on the home at around 3:15 p.m.  in the 50000 block of Papago Road and blocked off traffic between Brewer and Ralston roads. The home is on a large lot set back from Papago Road, which is in the unincorporated Thunderbird Farms area. Most lots in the subdivision are 3.3 acres. The lot is listed by the county as belonging to Jose and Francisca Valenzuela.

Forensic teams were part of the PCSO contingent. Officers were seen digging in the yard of the home. The house is about a block from where the Careccias’ car was found.

The Careccias have not been seen since Sunday night, June 21. Tina’s purse was still inside the home and their phones were turned off. In a call to 911, Michael Careccia's teenage son said they would have left at 5 a.m. June 22. He reported them missing after 7 p.m. that night.

Clark said the search is a “critical juncture” in the case. He did not say what instigated the warrant. PCSO announced Tuesday detectives believed foul play was involved.