In the quiet community of Buckeye, Arizona, the life of 16-year-old Rylee Montgomery was tragically cut short on the evening of May 14, 2026. Rylee, who was 14 weeks pregnant with a baby girl, was shot and killed outside a friend's home. Described by her family as a beautiful soul with a heart of gold, she loved animals, music, and spending time with her loved ones. Friends and family remembered her as someone who always tried to see the good in people and had dreams of becoming a firefighter.
Her family was looking forward to a gender reveal party planned for June and celebrating her seventeenth birthday soon after. The young mother-to-be was excited about her future and was preparing to get her driver's license.
The joyous anticipation of new life turned into a nightmare when Rylee's 18-year-old on-again, off-again boyfriend, Michael Isiah Sanchez, allegedly opened fire, ending both her life and that of their unborn child. The brutal attack also left two of Rylee's friends, a 17-year-old who was also pregnant and a 22-year-old woman, in critical condition. The family revealed that Sanchez had been abusive and did not want Rylee to continue with the pregnancy, having threatened her on multiple occasions. In the weeks leading up to the shooting, Rylee's family had reportedly contacted the police about his threats, but they felt little was done to protect her. Just hours before her death, Rylee herself had reported a death threat from Sanchez to the police. The tragedy deepened when the 17-year-old victim, Abigail Krebs, had to undergo an emergency delivery. Her newborn son, named Timmothy Rylee in honor of her best friend, fought for his life for six days before succumbing, adding another layer of grief to the horrific event.
In the aftermath of the shooting, law enforcement quickly identified Michael Sanchez as the primary suspect, and he was taken into custody the following morning. He now faces a string of felony charges, including two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Rylee and her unborn baby. Following the death of Abigail Krebs' newborn, police announced they would be recommending an additional murder charge against him. Another man, 19-year-old Antonio Tequida, was also arrested in connection with the crime. Tequida is accused of driving Sanchez to and from the scene of the shooting and helping him hide from the police. He faces a charge of hindering prosecution. The community has been left to mourn the devastating loss of young lives, holding vigils to honor the memory of Rylee and her baby girl. The case against Sanchez and Tequida will now move through the justice system, a process Rylee's family hopes will bring the maximum possible punishment for the heartbreaking loss of a daughter and granddaughter.
