GLENDALE

Mother of man who is suspect in Xbox slaying: 'He didn't do it'

Yihyun Jeong
The Republic | azcentral.com
Aaron Ott

The mother of a man arrested on suspicion of killing a teen after arranging to buy his Xbox through an online service disputed information put forth by the Glendale Police Department and denied her son killed the boy.

Authorities have wrongfully placed blame on her son for Miguel Navarro's death, Cheryl Ott told The Arizona Republic.

Aaron Ott, 19, of Avondale, was taken into custody on suspicion of first-degree murder and armed robbery.

“My son is an easy target because he’s just a dumb kid. They think he’s going to be a quick conviction,” Cheryl Ott said.

She said police need to take a second look at Pedro Claro-Fernandez, who was questioned by detectives about what had happened at Navarro's house.

RELATED: Xbox teen’s death: ‘The family is absolutely devastated … at a loss for words’

Aaron Ott had recently developed a friendship with Claro-Fernandez after they met at work, at a Little Caesar’s Pizza, Cheryl Ott said.

Aaron Ott picked up Claro-Fernandez in his mother's Gold Durango on Sunday before the two headed to Navarro's house in Glendale.

“The plan was so stupid, but it was simple,” Cheryl Ott said. “They went over to steal the Xbox, and the agreement was that my son was going to scare (Navarro), asking him for the Xbox, and that Pedro would grab it.”

But the plan went awry, according to Cheryl Ott.

“They went about it wrong, obviously because someone died,” she said. “But they’ve got the wrong guy."

Glendale police did not respond to multiple requests from The Republic for comment on Thursday.

Cheryl Ott questions why authorities have released Claro-Fernandez, placing the sole blame on her son.

She said Aaron Ott doesn't know how to shoot a gun because he never has held a gun before.

“My son’s story is short and sweet. He didn’t do it,” Cheryl Ott said.

Cheryl Ott said she has received death threats since the news broke of her son’s arrest, and she said she was concerned about her safety.

"I am all alone now. But of course I feed bad for the family, I really do," she said.