Bullhead City mother of slain girl sentenced for drug dealing

An Arizona woman whose daughter was killed almost 13 months ago has been sentenced to prison for her drug-dealing involvement following the homicide.

A five-year prison term was imposed Thursday for Tania Grogan after she previously pled guilty to sale of dangerous drugs.

Defense attorney Brad Rideout said that the 30-year-old Bullhead City woman deeply regrets that her drug use and addiction led to poor lifestyle choices that spiraled her life to tragedy.

Grogan's 8-year-old daughter, Isabella "Bella" Grogan-Cannella, was killed in September 2014.

Rideout said that Justin Rector, 27, the man who faces a possible death sentence if convicted in Bella's death, is Grogan's biological cousin.

"I have suffered the ultimate punishment with (losing) my daughter and I have to live with that for the rest of my life," Grogan told Judge Billy Sipe at her sentencing hearing in Kingman. "I just hope to do my time and come back to be with my two kids."

Grogan briefly was let out of jail to have another baby in late May, and she also has a daughter a few years older than Bella. Rideout said both children have been placed in care of family members.

Police reports indicate that Rector admitted smoking methamphetamine in the hours leading up to Bella's disappearance. Police allege his shoeprints were found at the grave where her body was located about a half-mile from her home.