‘I’m not going to stop’: Widow pushes for arrests in 2020 Gilbert killing of husband

PHOENIX — A Valley family is renewing its call for justice on the sixth anniversary of the killing of Nicholas “Nick” Cordova, a case that remains unsolved with no arrests.

Cordova was shot to death inside his Gilbert air conditioning business on May 27, 2020. Authorities say the investigation remains active, but a motive has not been identified.

“I’m just really, really lost without him still,” said his widow, Alysha Cordova, who marked the anniversary Wednesday. She described feeling “angry and sad and exhausted” as she continues to push for answers.

She remembered her husband, who was 40 at the time of his death, as a devoted father and friend.

“He just had a heart of gold and the most beautiful smile,” she said. “An amazing dad… I mean, such an amazing dad. You wanted to be around him… he just made everyone’s life better.”

Alysha Cordova said her husband’s final moments unfolded during a FaceTime call with their children. Within minutes of the call, she said the children alerted her that something was wrong.

At first, she said she thought they may have hung up and he had put the phone in his pocket because it looked like a “butt dial,” but then she heard sounds that “didn’t sound right.”

She called 911 and stayed on the line, later realizing what she saw on the screen “was a gun.” She rushed to the business, where police later told her her husband had been killed.

“I was terrified… and just felt helpless because there was nothing I could do to help him,” she said.

Six years later, she said that sense of helplessness has not gone away. Investigators have released surveillance video of a suspect but have not identified or arrested anyone. Police believe more than one person may have been involved.

“I’m not going to stop until these men are behind bars,” she said.

In a statement Wednesday, Gilbert police said they remain “fully committed” to pursuing every lead. Still, Cordova said she is losing patience with the pace of the investigation.

“I know that Gilbert PD says that they’re doing everything that they can. I just don’t know why it’s taking so long,” she said.

She said she has taken a more active role in advocating for the case, using social media and interviews to keep attention on her husband’s killing.

“I have to be his voice, because he doesn’t have one, and I have to be advocating for him, and I’m exhausted,” she said.

Her plea for information remains unchanged.

“If there is anyone that has any leads or any tips, or if you know anything, please. I beg you to come forward,” she said. “There’s somebody that knows something that could tie this all together, and that’s what we need for these arrests to be made.”

Police said the case remains an active investigation. A $20,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest, and anyone with information is urged to contact police or Silent Witness.

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