Ariz. murder tied to Washington
A former Washington man was arrested last week by police in Phoenix, Ariz., on a charge of first-degree murder in the suspected death of his girlfriend.
Robert John Interval Jr., 37, was arrested Thursday by detectives in the death of Christine Mustafa. Her body has not been found. Interval was arraigned and placed in Maricopa County jail on $1 million bond.
Mustafa was last seen May 10, when she left work at a pharmacy. Phoenix police said later that day, Mustafa reportedly spoke to her sister by telephone. That was the last time anyone heard from the 34-year-old. Mustafa failed to report for her scheduled work shift May 11.
The woman’s family contacted Phoenix police and asked them to check on her welfare. Police went to her home, but there was no answer at the door. They entered the home and found Mustafa’s purse and cellphone lying between a toilet and bathtub, according to a report in the Arizona Republic. Interval arrived while police were at the home, telling officers Mustafa had left for work earlier in the morning, police said.
The newspaper reported during a May 15 search at the home, investigators found a small amount of “possible blood-stained material” on pillowcases and bedsheets, and that Luminol sprayed on walls reacted in a way that “indicated the presence of blood or other biological material.”
Court documents obtained by the newspaper showed that police requested a court order to unlock Interval’s cellphone, and Mustafa’s family members told police that he had previously threatened to kill her. The couple have an 8-month-old daughter.
A spokeswoman for Mustafa’s family told the Republic they were relieved to know Interval is in custody.
“It is a sad case,” said Sgt. Jonathan Howard, public information officer for the police department.
Interval’s next scheduled court appearance is Thursday at the Regional Court Center in Phoenix.