In the predawn hours of May 25, 2002, a violent intrusion shattered the peace of a Phoenix, Arizona apartment, forever altering the lives of the Soto family. Adan Soto, a 42-year-old Hispanic man, was asleep in his bed alongside his wife, Enriqueta, and their baby. Unbeknownst to them, a meticulously planned attack was about to unfold, one born out of a desire to silence their voices in a court of law.
The chain of events leading to this tragic night began months earlier with a burglary at the Sotos' apartment, allegedly committed by Paul Bradley Speer and his half-brother, Chris Womble. Following their arrest, Speer, from his jail cell, orchestrated a plan to prevent Adan and Enriqueta from testifying against them.
This deadly plan, referred to as "Plan B," was conceived through a series of recorded jailhouse phone calls between Speer and his other half-brother, Brian Womble. The initial idea was to persuade the Sotos not to testify, but as the trial loomed, the plot escalated to murder. Over several weeks, the brothers discussed the logistics of the killing, including acquiring a weapon and making a silencer. In the early morning of May 25th, Brian Womble forced his way into the Sotos' residence and opened fire on the sleeping couple. Adan Soto succumbed to his injuries, while his wife was critically wounded but survived. Their infant child, who was in the bed with them, was miraculously unharmed.
The investigation into Adan Soto's murder swiftly led back to the incarcerated Paul Bradley Speer and his brother, Brian Womble. The recorded phone conversations from the jail became crucial evidence, laying bare the conspiracy to commit murder. The motive was determined to be witness elimination. Following the murder, Womble and Speer continued their incriminating conversations, with Womble confirming he had "fixed both parts" and Speer advising him to dispose of the guns.
Brian Womble was subsequently arrested and charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. His trial was severed from Speer's. Paul Bradley Speer faced charges including first-degree murder for his role in orchestrating the crime from behind bars. In January 2007, a jury found Speer guilty on all counts. The jury found several aggravating factors, including that the murder was committed to prevent a witness from testifying, and Speer was subsequently sentenced to death for the murder of Adan Soto. Brian Womble was also convicted for his direct role in the shooting.
