Ex-MLB pitcher sought in girlfriend’s murder found dead at Grand Canyon from apparent suicide
Charles Wallis Haeger, who pitched at different periods in his MLB career for the Chicago White Sox, San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers, “was found dead with an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound on Saturday [October 3] while being sought by police on suspicion of murder,” according to azcentral.com. The former knuckleballer was 37 years old at the time of his death.
His body was discovered on a trail in the Grand Canyon around 4 p.m. on October 3. Police had been searching for Haeger since Friday night after his ex-girlfriend, Danielle Breed, was found shot to death. Breed was also the owner of The Tipsy Coyote Bar and Grill in Scottsdale, Arizona. The Scottsdale Police had been looking for the ex-pitcher who was wanted on suspicion of murder and aggravated assault in that fatal shooting.
Police reportedly responded to a report of gunshots Friday evening, when Breed’s roommate said he heard gunshots upon returning to their residence on Friday. Haeger reportedly came out of the bedroom with a handgun and pointed it at the roommate, who managed to escape and call 911. ~ Yahoo! Sports
Immediately following that fatal Friday night shooting, the Scottsdale PD sent their SWAT team to the Breed home in an attempt to capture the shooter, but Haeger was able to successfully flee the scene. His unoccupied vehicle was later discovered about 100 miles away, near Flagstaff. Police put out a notice saying that they were looking for Haeger and that he should be considered “armed and dangerous.”
According to mlb.com, Haeger was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in 2001, and he pitched 83 innings in the major leagues. His career included stints with the Boston Red Sox, Seattle Mariners and Los Angeles Dodgers organizations. The knuckleball pitcher made 20 starts overall in parts of two seasons with the Portland Sea Dogs, in 2011 and 2013. ~ Press-Herald
The police investigation into the shooting death of Danielle Breed and the apparent suicide of former pitcher Charles Haeger is still ongoing. For more on the story, see the video accompanying this article.
~ Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Connect with Richard on Facebook and Twitter
