In a tragic event that unfolded in a suburban home in Gilbert, Arizona, 24-year-old Jim Franklin Hiott was killed on May 2, 2012. Hiott was one of four victims in a horrific murder-suicide perpetrated by a known neo-Nazi, Jason 'JT' Ready.
The violence erupted at the home of Ready's girlfriend, Lisa Lynn Mederos, age 47. An argument between Ready and Lisa is believed to have escalated, leading to the fatal shootings.
In the devastating rampage, Ready, a 39-year-old former Marine with ties to neo-Nazi and Minutemen groups, shot and killed Lisa Mederos, her 23-year-old daughter Amber Nieve Mederos, and Amber's 15-month-old daughter, Lilly Lynn Mederos. Jim Franklin Hiott, who was Amber's boyfriend, was also tragically killed during the violent outburst. After murdering the four victims, Ready then turned the gun on himself, taking his own life.
Jim Franklin Hiott was a former Army specialist and a veteran of the war in Afghanistan. He was remembered by friends and family as a caring individual who knew how to bring laughter and smiles to those around him. The Gilbert community was left in shock as they tried to comprehend the senseless loss of life. Police who responded to the scene described a domestic situation that had spiraled into an unimaginable tragedy. The investigation concluded that Ready was the sole person responsible for the four murders and his subsequent suicide.
