Arizona woman sentenced to 21 years in cousin’s fatal hammer beating case

PEORIA, AZ – A violent family dispute that ended in a fatal hammer attack and a disturbing cleanup attempt has resulted in a decades-long prison sentence for a 33-year-old Arizona woman. Brianna Elise Zerth was sentenced Friday to 21 years behind bars after admitting to killing her cousin, Peter McKenna Jr., during a confrontation inside a Peoria home.

Zerth pleaded guilty in April to one count of domestic violence manslaughter in connection with the May 4, 2022 killing. Court records show the sentence is the maximum allow...