11 Oct 2nd-Oct 8th, 2025 phoenixnewtimes.com PHOENIX NEW TIMES | NEWS | FEATURE | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & CULTURE | MUSIC | CONCERTS | CANNABIS | A cold case Phoenix police now consider the brazen murder of Denogean to be a “cold” case, despite the department having a suspect who is already in prison serving time for a different murder. Rossi told New Times that the original case agent has moved on and is now a “sergeant in training in our patrol division” and that the Denogean homicide is currently “assigned to our ‘cold case’ division.” The theory of the case is already well- established. A day after Denogean was killed, Quintero murdered 57-year-old commercial painter and musician Joseph Patruno at a 76 gas station near Bell and Cave Creek roads. A detective investi- gating that killing quickly noted the simi- larities to Denogean’s murder and alerted the investigator on that case. That investigator detailed the similari- ties between the two cases in the incident report. Both men were near their respec- tive homes when they were gunned down in public without provocation — Denogean while he was walking his dog, Patruno while he was pumping gas into his truck. However, different weapons were used and while Denogean’s killer fled, Quintero threw the gun down after killing Patruno and surrendered at the scene. (Patruno’s family declined to be interviewed for this story.) Quintero later pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 25 years, with credit for time served, as part of a curiously generous plea deal with the office of Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell. Homicide detectives believed Quintero was also Denogean’s killer and confronted him with the accusation in late 2023 while he was in jail on the Patruno murder. But Quintero invoked his right to counsel, and the case was never formally submitted to prosecutors for charging. Law enforcement sources told New Times that cops pressed prosecutors to make a confession to the Denogean homicide part of any plea deal with Quintero, but that did not happen. Police recently told ABC 15 that Quintero was their only suspect in the Denogean shooting. Rossi claimed the investigation was still “open and active” and that “a new set of eyes” is reviewing the case. Those eyes belong to the department’s Cold Case Unit, which Phoenix police spokesperson Sgt. Brian Bower said handles various categories of cold cases, including homi- cides, suspicious deaths, missing persons, sexual assault and unidentified victims. According to Bower, the Cold Case Unit is currently comprised of nine sworn detec- tives, four civilian investigators and a sergeant. There is also a civilian volunteer and a reserve officer attached to the unit. Bower said all detectives work all cate- gories, but the majority of cases are homi- cides, which reportedly could number more than 3,000, though Bower said the figure fluctuates. That’s sub-zero comfort to Denogean’s parents. Still, despite the lack of progress on the case, Frank and Judy plan to continue doing anniversary vigils and Christmas toy drives in their son’s name. Though cold, the case is still open, and the Silent Witness reward on Denogean’s case is now around $24,000, per the family. Frank recalled a Phoenix homicide detective telling him that his son’s murder was a capital offense and that the perpetrator would get the death penalty if caught and convicted. Frank said he told the investigator they just wanted whoever did it off the streets, because the death penalty wouldn’t bring their son back. Quintero is off the streets — albeit for a different killing — but Frank is amazed at the light sentence he received. “That sentence of 25 years, I just feel for the family because they know for sure he’s the murderer,” he said, shaking his head. “And they call that justice.” This story is part of the Arizona Watchdog Project, a yearlong reporting effort led by New Times and supported by the Trace Foundation, in partnership with Deep South Today. Eduardo Quintero’s mugshot after he was booked for the murder of Joseph Patruno. (Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office) ‘Dropped the Ball’ from p 8
