Phoenix man arrested in 2023 cold case

Police make a break in a 3-year-old homicide investigation

Apr. 3, 2026 at 12:04am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An extreme close-up photograph of a single spent shell casing on a dark background, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash, conceptually representing the physical evidence at the center of a cold case investigation.A recent arrest in a 2023 cold case homicide sheds light on the challenges of solving violent crimes with limited evidence.Phoenix Today

Police in Phoenix have arrested a 28-year-old man, Andre Jermaine Gentry Nicholes, in connection with the 2023 murder of his girlfriend, Karissa Danyelle Hamilton. Hamilton was found shot to death at Steele Indian School Park in February 2023, and the case went cold until Nicholes was arrested during an unrelated investigation and made statements linking himself to the killing.

Why it matters

This arrest provides some closure for Hamilton's family, who had pleaded for answers nine months after her murder. The case highlights the challenges police face in solving cold cases, but also demonstrates how new evidence and leads can sometimes emerge years later to help bring suspects to justice.

The details

On February 5, 2023, police responded to a call about an injured person at Steele Indian School Park in Phoenix and found Karissa Danyelle Hamilton, 29, dead from a gunshot wound. The case went cold until March 27, 2026, when police arrested Andre Jermaine Gentry Nicholes, 28, during a separate investigation. During an interview, Nicholes made statements linking himself to Hamilton's killing, and detectives learned he had been Hamilton's boyfriend at the time of her death.

  • On February 5, 2023, police responded to the park and found Hamilton dead.
  • Nine months after her murder, in November 2023, Hamilton's family held a press conference pleading for answers.
  • On March 27, 2026, police arrested Nicholes during a separate investigation and he made statements linking himself to the killing.

The players

Andre Jermaine Gentry Nicholes

A 28-year-old man who was arrested and charged with the premeditated first-degree murder of his girlfriend, Karissa Danyelle Hamilton, in 2023.

Karissa Danyelle Hamilton

A 29-year-old woman who was found shot to death at Steele Indian School Park in Phoenix in February 2023. She was the mother of a young son.

Patricia Brienza

Hamilton's aunt, who spoke at a press conference nine months after her niece's murder pleading for answers.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“She left a big void.”

— Patricia Brienza, Karissa Danyelle Hamilton's aunt

What’s next

Nicholes is being held on $2 million bond, and his preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 6.

The takeaway

This arrest provides some closure for Karissa Danyelle Hamilton's family after her tragic murder three years ago, but it also highlights the challenges police face in solving cold cases. The break in the case came through new evidence and leads that emerged years later, demonstrating the importance of perseverance in homicide investigations.