John Jonchuck Jr: Father charged with murder after daughter, 5, is thrown from bridge

A father has been charged with murder after his five-year-old daughter was thrown to her death from a bridge.

John Jonchuck Jnr, 25, was spotted speeding at about 100mph on the Dick Misner Bridge over Tampa Bay in Florida.

A traffic officer followed Jonchuck’s vehicle but he stopped, got out and began walking towards the policeman, muttering.

He then leaned into his car, picked up his daughter Phoebe and dropped her over the bridge rail where she fell 60ft into the water, it is alleged.

The officer said he heard Phoebe scream as she went over the side. Her father got back in the car and sped off.

The officer climbed down to a platform undeeath the bridge to try to find the child, but the current had already taken her away. Jonchuck, from Tampa, was arrested half an hour later driving the wrong way down a main road.

Phoebe Jonchuck was thrown from a bridge (Picture: Melody Dishman)

John Jonchuck Jr (Picture: REUTERS)

After a desperate search divers found Phoebe in the water about half a mile from the bridge.

She was taken to hospital but was pronounced dead.

St Petersburg police chief Tony Holloway said: ‘I’ve been doing this job for 29 years and I don’t even know what was going through this guy’s mind.’

 

Divers sent to Sunshine Skyway bridge (pictured) found Phoebe's lifeless body in the water after 40 minutes

Jonchuck was charged with murder, fleeing police and aggravated assault.

According to reports, he is estranged from Phoebe’s mother but had custody of their child.