TAMPA, Fla. — Hours before he threw his young daughter over a bridge to her death, John Jonchuck met with a priest and sought baptism.
Father Bill Swengros of St. Paul's Catholic Church had never met John Jonchuck Jr. before Wednesday.
"He called for an appointment and came to see me," says Swengros.
He wanted to join the church and be baptized. Jonchuck's 5-year-old daughter, Phoebe, was by his side.
"For a 5-year-old, she seemed bright, amiable, and self confident," said Swengros.
Shortly after midnight, a police officer watched as Jonchuck removed his daughter, from his car and tossed her over the Dick Misener Bridge. The girl fell 60 feet before hitting the water and, according to Jonchuck's arrest affidavit, drowned.
St. Petersburg Police Chief Anthony Holloway said Officer William Vickers was on his way home from work shortly after midnight, driving southbound toward the Sunshine Skyway Bridge when man driving a Chrysler PT Cruiser passed him going about 100 mph.
Holloway said the officer did not engage the car in a pursuit, but when he got near the top of the Dick Misener Bridge, Jonchuck got out of the car and approached the officer screaming.
Vickers then witnessed Jonchuck walk to the passenger side and take the child out of the car, press her head to his chest and throw her over the side of the rail into the water.
Jonchuck got back in the car and drove south, and was eventually stopped by Manatee County Sheriff''s deputies about 30 minutes later.
Before arriving at the church on Wednesday, Jonchuck met with his attorney.
A lawyer for Family First Law Group called 911 early Wednesday and reported that Jonchuck, who was a new client, came to her office and claimed he was God and the creator. He then wanted her to read him the Bible in Swedish.
"He's nuts," attorney Genevieve Torres tells the 911 dispatcher. "He's out of his mind, and he has a minor child with him, [and is] driving to a church now. I should have kept the child (here)."
She goes on to say, "I was supposed to file his paperwork for a case. And he's like, 'Well, don't file the paperwork. It's not going to matter any more.'"
Swengros said nothing unusual stood out during his meeting, though Jonchuck admitted to having mental issues.
"He was anxious agitated but not threatening an any way," said Swengros. "He wasn't presently under medication."
About 30 minutes into the meeting, deputies arrived and indicated Jonchuck made no threats to himself and was not a danger.
"He didn't seem to be in a danger to anyone else or himself," said Swengros.
But later, Jonchuck would return.
"He came back one or two hours later, a little more agitated, wanted to be baptized right away. He brought his mother with him, and I said we don't do that and said he may find another church," said Swengros.
Instead, investigators say Jonchuck threw his daughter off a bridge to her death.
"Mental illness is a terrible thing all people live with it, but you can't just simply take somebody away because somebody is agitated.
Jonchuck is in the Pinellas County Jail charged with first-degree murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on a law enforcement officer, and aggravated fleeing and eluding. His next court appearance is scheduled for Jan. 12.
