Man Accused of Throwing Daughter Off Bridge Ruled Incompetent

The Tampa man accused of throwing his 5-year-old daughter over the approach to the Sunshine Skyway Bridge will not stand trial anytime soon.

Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge Chris Helinger ruled Thursday that John Jonchuck is mentally incompetent, BayNew9 reported. The ruling follows on the heels of two doctor reports that concluded Jonchuck suffers from mental-health related issues.

Rather than face trial on a first-degree murder charge in the death of Phoebe Jonchuck, John, 25, will now be sent to a mental health hospital, Channel 10 reported. A status hearing to revisit the issue is scheduled for June 9.

Phoebe’s final hours began to unfold just after midnight Jan. 8 when off-duty St. Petersburg Police Officer William Vickers was passed by a car doing 100 mph. Vickers gave chase, but the car, which officers say was driven by John Jonchuck had quite a lead on him.

As the man neared the top of the Dick Misener Bridge, on the approach to the Skyway, Vickers watched as the car stopped, John Jonchuck got out and threw Phoebe into the water below, the St. Petersburg Police Department announced at the time of the child’s death.

See Also:

• Dad Accused of Throwing Daughter Off Bridge Incompetent for Trial, Doctors Say
• ‘He’s Out of His Mind,’ Says Attorney for Dad Accused of Throwing Child from Bridge
• Officer Tried to Stop Man Accused of Throwing Child Over Skyway
• Dad Accused of Throwing Daughter From Bridge Had Lengthy Criminal History

Jonchuck then got back into his Chrysler PT Cruiser and took off into Manatee County where authorities there stopped him near the University Parkway exit.

A search for the child was launched with U.S. Coast Guard assistance. Phoebe was located and attempts were made to resuscitate her. She later died at a local hospital.

A report issued by the Florida Department of Children and Families indicates that child protection workers failed to follow up on calls to the state’s abuse hotline in regard to Phoebe Jonchuck’s well-being, the Tampa Bay Times reported. While DCF admits missteps, the agency says nothing could have signaled what was about to occur, the paper noted. The agency has, however, suspended a worker who screened a call related to the Jonchuck’s, BayNews9 reported.

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