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The dad accused of throwing his 5-year-old daughter off of a Florida bridge appeared in court for the first time. He declined a court appointed lawyer wanting to 'leave it in the hands of God' instead. VPC
John Jonchuck Jr. is shown in his booking photo after he was arrested for throwing his 5-year-old daughter off a bridge Jan. 8, 2015, in St. Petersburg, Fla.(Photo: Pinellas County Sheriff's Office)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The man accused of throwing his 5-year-old daughter off a bridge to her death Thursday told a judge he did not want a lawyer, but instead wanted to "leave it in the hands of God."
Pinellas Judge Michael Andrews ordered John Nicholas Jonchuck Jr., 25, held without bond. Jonchuck's first court appearance came hours after a police officer watched as he removed his daughter, Phoebe Jonchuk, from his car and tossed her over the Dick Misener Bridge.
Andrews set Jonchuck's next court appearance for Jan. 12.
St. Petersburg Police Chief Anthony Holloway said Officer William Vickers was on his way home from work shortly after midnight, driving southbound toward the Sunshine Skyway Bridge when man driving a Chrysler PT Cruiser passed him going about 100 mph.
Holloway said the officer did not engage the car in a pursuit, but when he got near the top of the Dick Misener Bridge on the approach to the skyway, the suspect, identified as John Nicholas Jonchuck Jr., got out of the car and approached the officer screaming.
"The subject got out of the vehicle he started saying something... the officer had no idea what he was saying," said Holloway.
Vickers then witnessed Jonchuck walk to the passenger side and take the child out of the car, press her head to his chest and throw her over the side of the rail into the water.
Jonchuck got back in the car and drove south, and was eventually stopped by Manatee County Sheriff''s deputies about 30 minutes later.
USA TODAY
Dad told police 'I'm at peace' after leaving tot to die
The child, who was thrown about 60 feet into the water, was located about an hour later and taken to All Children's Hospital but was pronounced dead at 2:44 a.m. Thursday, public information officer Yolanda Fernandez said.
Holloway said the officer immediately tried to locate the child's body after Jonchuck threw her over the bridge but was unable to find her.
According to Jonchuck's arrest affidavit, Phoebe was alive when she was thrown into the water, and appears to have drowned.
Phoebe Jonchuck, 5, died Jan. 8, 2015, when her father drove to bridge in St. Petersburg, Fla., and threw her into the water.(Photo: Family photo)
The officer "thought he heard the child scream, but he wasn't sure," he said.
Several dive teams, including from the Coast Guard, were involved in the search for the child. She was recovered by dive teams from Eckerd College.
Holloway said he had no explanation for Jonchuck's actions.
"I've been doing this for 29 yrs and I have no idea what was going on in the guy's mind," Holloway said. "I'm kind of worried about my officer because as we say, there is nothing routine about a traffic stop."
Police say Jonchuck, who lived with his parents in Tampa, Fla., had custody of his daughter. Authorities have contacted the girl's mother, who also lives in Tampa.
Jonchuck has had several prior arrests, including domestic battery in 2008 and a DUI charge in 2013. Police say he is not cooperating with detectives at this time.
Holloway said Jonchuck filed a domestic violence charge against the child's mother in late December, but it was dismissed.
Police have charged Jonchuck with first-degree murder, aggravated fleeing and eluding and aggravated assault with a motor vehicle on a law enforcement officer.
Melody Dishman, a family friend, said Jonchuck and his daughter lived with her family for months before they moved out last October. Dishman said she knew Jonchuck since they were 12 years old.
St. Petersburg, Florida's Chief of Police says it is currently unclear whether a 5-year-old girl was alive or dead before her dad threw her off a bridge. She was later pronounced dead, after falling an estimated 60 feet into the water. VPC
She said he treated his daughter well and they often said "I love you" to each other. She described Phoebe as a happy, kind, wonderful little girl who loved to play.
Dishman said Jonchuck was into doing drugs like methamphetamine and synthetic marijuana, along with prescription drugs she was concerned about.
She added Jonchuck seemed angry two days ago, saying hateful things when texting her. Still, she said she never thought Phoebe was in danger.
"I never thought he would do that," Dishman said. "Honestly I never thought he would hurt that little girl."
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