Attorney Genevieve Torres said she met with John Jonchuck yesterday to discuss the custody case for his 5-year-old daughter, Phoebe, who was found dead in the Tampa Bay after police said he tossed her into the water.
Torres was so worried about Jonchuck and Phoebe that she reported the odd statements to police. They interviewed Jonchuck and his daughter as he was picking her up from a church day care and both appeared to be in good health. Jonchuck said he didn't want to harm himself or anyone else, the documents said.
"She was smiling and appeared healthy, properly clothed and happy," according to the documents.
Phoebe had long curly hair, a wide smile and loved princesses. She hated baths and water, making her death even more gut-wrenching.
Her parents, Jonchuck and Michelle Kerr, were together for six tumultuous years, and police were called numerous times for domestic violence-related complaints. Both had arrest records.
Jonchuck had custody of Phoebe.
"I always saw him as a good dad," Kerr said. "She would always say, 'I love you daddy.' She loved her dad."
Jonchuck is in jail facing a first-degree murder charge. At his first hearing, Pinellas County Judge Michael Andrews asked him if he wanted an attorney.
"I want to leave it in the hands of God," Jonchuck said.
The judge responded: "I'm pretty sure God's not going to be representing you in this case. You're going to be standing trial."
Police said just after midnight Wednesday, an officer saw Jonchuck's Chrysler PT Cruiser going about 100 mph toward the Sunshine Skyway bridge. By the time an officer caught up with him, Jonchuck had pulled over on the approach span to the bridge.
Jonchuck got out and started toward the officer, who pulled his weapon. Then Jonchuck grabbed Phoebe from the back seat and "held her face to his chest" as he carried her to the railing, St. Petersburg police Chief Anthony Holloway said.
It wasn't clear whether Phoebe was alive, though the officer said he "thought he heard the child scream" before Jonchuck threw her into Tampa Bay about 60 feet below, Holloway said.
Phoebe's body was recovered almost 2 kilometres from the bridge and she was pronounced dead at 2:44 a.m. An autopsy is pending.
Police records said Jonchuck, 25, was separated from Phoebe's 29-year-old mother and the two had a rocky relationship, with Jonchuck requesting a restraining order against her as recently as last month. Police said the request was denied. Jonchuck and Phoebe lived with his dad in Tampa.