PROCEEDINGS

Presiding Judge: H. Jeffrey Coker
Prosecutor: Fred Newton
Plea: July 18, 1988
Sentencing: August 26, 1988
Execution:    March 3, 1993

Aggravating Circumstances
    Especially heinous/cruel/depraved Grave risk of death to other (the fetus)

Mitigating Circumstances
    None sufficient to call for leniency

PUBLISHED OPINIONS
    State v. Brewer, 170 Ariz. 486, 826 P.2d 783 (1992).
    Brewer v. Lewis, 989 F.2d 1021 (9th Cir. 1993).
    Brewer v. Lewis, 997 F.2d 550 (9th Cir. 1993).

DAREN L. BOLTON Date of Birth: September 9, 1966 Defendant: Caucasian Victim:  Caucasian

On the night of June 27, 1986, Bolton kidnapped the 2 1/2-year-old victim from a bedroom in her parents' house in Tucson. He took her to an abandoned taxi cab, undressed her, stabbed her in the chest once, and redressed her. Bolton left her to bleed to death, and her body was discovered on July 1, 1986, by some boys who were playing in the area.

PROCEEDINGS

Presiding Judge: William L. Scholl
Prosecutor:  Kathleen Mayer
Start of Trial: October 28, 1992
Verdict: November 12, 1992
Sentencing: February 22, 1993

Aggravating Circumstances
    Victim under age 15
    Especially heinous, cruel or depraved

Mitigating Circumstances
    None

PULISHED OPINIONS

State v. Bolton___, Ariz.__, 896 P.2d 830 (1995).

JOSE JESUS CEJA Date of Birth: October 24, 1955 Defendant: hispanic Victim:  Hispanic, Caucasian

On Sunday, June 30, 1974, Ceja went to the home of Randy and Linda Leon in Phoenix intending to steal a large shipment of marijuana. Upon entry, Ceja shot Linda (who apparently resisted him) twice in the chest, and then dragged her body from the living room to the bedroom where he shot her at least four more times in the head at close range. When Randy arrived home, Ceja shot him four times with his own gun, which Ceja had removed from a drawer in the house. Ceja loaded a suitcase he had brought with him with 12 kilos of marijuana. He removed the receiver from the phone and turned on the television to create an appearance that someone was home. He later attended the funeral of the victims, helped move furniture, and offered to help police find the murderer.

PROCEEDINGS

Presiding Judge: C. Kimball Rose (first trial) A. Melvin McDonald (second trial)
Prosecutors:Joseph Shaw (first trial) Peter Whitmer (retrial) Lawrence Turoff (resentencing)
Start of Trial: November 8, 1974 (first trial) May 12, 1976 (second trial)
Verdicts:November 19, 1974 (first trial) May 18, 1976 (second trial)
Sentencing:December 19, 1974 (first trial) June 25, 1976 (second trial)
Resentencing:July 17, 1979

Aggravating Circumstances
    Especially heinous/cruel/depraved

Mitigating Circumstances
    None sufficient to call for leniency

PUBLISHED OPINIONS

State v. Ceja, 113 Ariz. 39, 546 P.2d 6 (1976).
State v. Ceja, 115 Ariz. 413, 565 P.2d 1274 (1977).
State v. Ceja, 126 Ariz. 35, 612 P.2d 491 (1980).

ANTHONY LEE CHANEY Date of Birth: April 4, 1954 Defendant: Caucasian Victim: Caucasian

Chaney and Deanna Jo Saunders-Coleman were on the run from a string of burglaries in Texas and Colorado. They were driving a stolen pickup truck and were in possession of 11 stolen firearms. On September 6, 1982, Coconino County Sheriff's Deputy Robert Cline, on routine patrol, checked the campsite where Chaney and Saunders-Coleman were staying outside of Flagstaff. After requesting a check on the stolen truck, Cline got out of his car and began talking to Chaney. Chaney pulled a gun on the deputy, had Deanna disarm him, and handcuffed him to a tree. Chaney and Deanna got into the truck and started to leave. As they did, John Jamison, a reserve deputy who was also a medical doctor, arrived at the scene. Chaney jumped out of the truck and began firing at Jamison with an AR-15 rifle. Using a hail of fire to pin Jamison down inside his car, Chaney advanced to point blank range and fired three fatal shots into the deputy. In addition to the fatal three wounds, the deputy was struck by over 200 fragments of metal and glass from the shots fired into the vehicle. Saunders-Coleman pled guilty to second-degree murder and received a 21-year prison sentence. She testified against Chaney.

PROCEEDINGS
    Presiding Judge: William F. Garbarino
    Prosecutors: John Verkamp and Charles D. Adams
    Start of Trial: February 16, 1983
    Verdict: March 17, 1983
    Sentencing: April 20, 1983

Aggravating Circumstances
    Especially heinous/cruel/depraved

Mitigating Circumstances
    None

PUBLISHED OPINIONS
    State v. Chaney, 141 Ariz. 295, 686 P.2d 1265 (1984).
    Chaney v. Lewis, 801 F.2d 1191 (9th Cit. 1986).
    Chaney v. Stewart, 1998 WL 598536 (9th Cir., Sept. 11, 1998).

JAMES DEAN CLARK Date of Birth: October 18, 1957 Defendant:Caucasian Victims:  Caucasian

For most of 1977, Clark worked as a wrangler at a dude ranch in Elfrida. In the early morning hours of December 4, 1977, Clark killed two other wranglers at the ranch, George Martin, Jr. and 17- year-old Gerald McFerron. Clark stabbed Martin numerous times in the chest and shot McFerron three times in the head. Both victims were asleep at the time of the attacks. Clark then took a .357 Magnum and walked to the house of the owners, Charles and Mildred Thumm. After shooting Mr. Thumm twice, Clark shot Mrs. Thumm through the head as she slept. He took jewelry, credit cards and money from the Thumms, stole their car, and after slashing the tires of all the vehicles at the ranch, drove to El Paso. To a friend, Clark gloated, "You should have seen Charley when I hit him with those [wad] cutters." When he was arrested, the police found that Clark had retained as a souvenir from the murders the bullet that had passed through the head of one of the victims.

PROCEEDINGS

Presiding Judge: Anthony T. Deddens
Prosecutor: Joe Fuller
Start of Trial: May 4, 1978
Verdict: June 23, 1978
Sentencing: July 28, 1978
Execution: April 14, 1993

Aggravating Circumstances
Pecuniary gain Especially cruel/depraved (cruel struck on appeal)
Grave risk of death to others (struck on appeal)

Mitigating Circumstances
None sufficient to call for leniency

PUBLISHED OPINIONS

State v. Clark, 126 Ariz. 428, 616 P.2d 888 (1980).
Clark v. Ricketts, 886 F.2d 1152 (9th Cir. 1989).
Clark v. Ricketts, 942 F.2d 567 (9th Cir. 1991).
Clark v. Ricketts, 958 F.2d 851 (9th Cir. 1991).
Clark v. Lewis, 1 F.3d 814 (9th Cir. 1993).

A Warrant of Execution was issued December 9th 1998 by Supreme Court of Arizona for the execution of ADC inmate Darrick Leonard Gerlaugh on February 3rd, 1999.

DARRICK LEONARD GERLAUGH Date of Birth: June 17, 1960 Defendant: American Indian Victim:  Caucasian

On January 24, 1980, Gerlaugh, Joseph Encinas, and Matthew Leisure decided to hitchhike from Chandler to Phoenix and rob whoever offered them a ride. Their victim turned out to be Scott Schwartz. Schwartz had a leg injury, wore a leg brace and used crutches.   The three ordered Schwartz at gunpoint to drive to a deserted location on the outskirts of Mesa, where they attacked him. Gerlaugh had Encinas and Leisure hold Schwartz on the road while he drove the car over him several times.  Gerlaugh positioned the left rear tyre on Schwartz' body and revved the engine so the spinning wheel would kill him.   When the victim seemed to be alive, Gerlaugh and Leisure stabbed him 30 to 40 times in the head, neck and shoulders with a screwdriver.  They hid Schwartz' body in a nearby field and took $36 from him and left in his car.  Gerlaugh and Encinas were convicted of the murder following a joint trial. Encinas received a life sentence. Leisure pled guilty to first degree murder and also received a life sentence.

PROCEEDINGS
    Presiding Judge: I. Sylvan Brown
    Prosecutor: Vince Imbordino
    Start of Trial: December 15, 1980
    Verdict: December 19, 1980
    Sentencing: February 11, 1981

Aggravating Circumstances
    Prior conviction punishable by life imprisonment
    Pecuniary gain
    Especially heinous/ cruel/depraved

Mitigating Circumstances
    None sufficient to call for leniency

PUBLISHED OPINIONS
    State v. Gerlaugh, 134 Ariz. 164, 654 P.2d 800 (1982).
    State v. Gerlaugh, 135 Ariz. 89, 659 P.2d 642 (1983).
    State v. Gerlaugh, 144 Ariz. 4-49, 698 P.2d 694 (1985).
    Gerlaugh v. Lewis, 898 F. Supp, 1388 (D. Ariz 1995).
    Gerlaugh v. Stewart, 129 F.3d 1027 (9th Cir. 1997),

JESS JAMES GILLIES Date of Birth: October 18, 1960 Defendant:Caucasian Victim:  Caucasian

On January 29, 1981, Suzanne Rossetti locked herself out of her car at a Phoenix convenience store. Gillies and Mike Logan helped her get into her car. To show her gratitude, Ms. Rossetti bought the men a six-pack of beer and offered them a ride to a riding stable where Gillies worked. En route, one of the men grabbed Rossetti, stopped the car, and pulled her to the ground where they both raped her. Gillies and Logan drove Rossetti to Papago Park and then to her apartment, raping her at both locations. The men rifled her purse and scavenged her apartment for valuables. The attackers ultimately took Ms. Rossetti to the Superstitions where she was pushed from a cliff, tumbling 40 feet down the rocky hillside. Gillies and Logan pursued their victim down the hill and found her still alive. Rossetti begged for mercy, told the men she was going to die anyway, and asked them to let her die in peace. According to Gillies, Logan responded: "That's right, bitch, you are." According to Logan, Gillies began calling the victim a whore and a bitch. The victim was then bashed on the head with rocks until she lost consciousness. Gillies and Logan covered her with rocks and drove back to Phoenix in her car. Logan pled guilty to first-degree murder in exchange for a life sentence.

PROCEEDINGS

Presiding Judge: Stephen H. Scott
Prosecutor:  Jeffrey A. Hotham
Start of Trial:  August 20, 1981
Verdict:  August 27, 1981
Sentencing:  September 28, 1981
Resentencing: June 30, 1983

Aggravating Circumstances
    Prior conviction involving violence (struck on appeal)
    Pecuniary gain (struck on appeal)
    Especially heinous/cruel/depraved Committed offense while in custody (struck on appeal)

Mitigating Circumstances
    None sufficient to call for leniency

PUBLISHED OPINIONS

State v. Gillies, 135 Ariz. 500, 662 P.2d 1007 (1983).
State v. Gillies, 142 Ariz. 564, 691 P.2d 1059 (1984).

RANDY GREENAWALT Date of Birth: February 24, 1949 Defendant:Caucasian Victim:  Caucasian

On July 30, 1978, Greenawalt and Gary Tison escaped from Arizona State Prison with the help of Gary's sons, Ricky, Ray, and Donnie. The next night, the group kidnapped and shotgunned to death John and Donnelda Lyons, their 2-year-old son Christopher, and their teenaged niece, Theresa Tyson, in Yuma County. They then drove north, changing cars several times, and apparently murdered a newly wed couple, James and Margene Judge, in Colorado. They then turned south again, driving the Judges' van. On August 11, 1978, they were able to run a roadblock that the authorities had established in Pinal County. At the next roadblock when the van would not stop, the authorities fired on it, killing Donnie Tison. The authorities captured Greenawalt and Ricky and Raymond Tison, but Gary Tison was able to escape into the desert. Gary Tison was found dead in the desert several days later.

PROCEEDINGS

Presiding Judge: Douglas W. Keddie
Prosecutor:  Michael Irwin
Start of Trial:  February 6, 1979
Verdict:  February 16, 1979
Sentencing: March 26, 1979

Aggravating Circumstances
    Prior convictions punishable by life imprisonment
    Prior convictions involving violence
    Grave risk of death to others
    Pecuniary gain Especially heinous/cruel/depraved

Mitigating Circumstances
    None

PUBLISHED OPINIONS

State v. Greenawalt, 128 Ariz. 150, 624 P.2d 828 (1981).
Greenawalt v. Ricketts, 784 F.2d 1453 (9th Cir. 1986).
Greenawalt v. Ricketts, 943 F.2d 1020 (9th Cir. 1991).
Greenawalt v. Ricketts, 953 F.2d 1020 (9th Cir. 1991),
    reh'g en banc denied, 961 F.2d 1457 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 113 S. Ct. 117 (1992).

DOUGLAS EDWARD GRETZLER Date of Birth: May 21, 1951 Defendant:Caucasian Victim:  Caucasian

On November 3, 1973, Gretzler and Willie Luther Steelman forced Michael Sandberg at gunpoint from the parking lot of his condominium complex into his home in Tucson, where his wife, Patricia, was studying. They bound and gagged the Sandbergs. When night fell, Gretzler shot Michael Sandberg, who was bound and lying on the bed. He then shot Patricia Sandberg in the head, as she lay bound on the living room couch. Steelman fired another shot into her body. Gretzler and Steelman then took the Sandbergs' credit cards, checks, a camera, and their car, and left for California. In California, the police apprehended Gretzler and Steelman, ending a crime spree that resulted in the deaths of at least nine people. Steelman was also convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. He died in prison in 1987.

PROCEEDINGS

Presiding Judge: William E. Druke
Prosecutors:David G. Dingeldine (trial and sentencing) Lynn Gallagher (resentencing)   
Start of Trial: October 14, 1975
Verdict:  November 5, 1975
Sentencing: November 15, 1976
Resentencing:October 23, 1981

Aggravating Circumstances
    Prior convictions punishable by life imprisonment
    Prior convictions involving violence
    Pecuniary gain
    Especially heinous/cruel/depraved

Mitigating Circumstances
    None sufficient to call for leniency

PUBLISHED OPINIONS

State v. Gretzler, 126 Ariz. 60, 612 P.2d 1023 (1980).
State v. Gretzler, 135 Ariz. 42, 659 P.2d 1 (1983).

DONALD EUGENE HARDING Date of Birth: March 1, 1949 Defendant:Caucasian Victim:  Caucasian

On January 25, 1980, probably by posing as a security guard, Harding managed to gain entrance to 5: Tucson motel room of Robert Wise and Martin Concannon. Harding hogtied both men with multiple ligatures and shot each A the head and chest from close range. Harding also beat Wise with a lamp and stuffed sock into Concannon's mouth. He then took various articles belonging to both men and departed in Concannon's car. About 8:00 p.m. that same day, Harding appeared at Wise's home in Mesa, knocked on the door, and asked Wise's wife whether "Bob" was them He had one of Wise's business cards in his left hand and kept his right hand in his pocket while he spoke with Mrs. Wise at the door. He left, probably because a child and a large dog were present. Harding was arrested in Flagstaff on January 26, 1980, while driving Concannon's car.

PROCEEDINGS
    Presiding Judge: Harry Gin
    Prosecutor:  Victor Wild
    Start of Trial: April 21, 1982
    Verdict: April 27, 1982
    Sentencing: May 26, 1982
    Execution:    April 6, 1992

Aggravating Circumstances
    Prior conviction punishable by life imprisonment
    Prior conviction involving violence
    Pecuniary gain
    Especially depraved

Mitigating Circumstances
    None

PUBLISHED OPINIONS
    State v. Harding, 137 Ariz. 278, 670 P.2d 383 (1983).
    Harding v. Lewis, 641 F. Supp. 979 (D. Ariz. 1986).
    Harding v. Lewis, 834 F.2d 853 (9th Cir. 1987).

JIMMIE WAYNE JEFFERS Date of Birth: June 7, 1946 Defendant:Caucasian Victim:  Caucasian

In May 1976, Jeffers and his girlfriend, Penelope Cheney, were jailed on charges of possession of narcotics and receipt of stolen property. Jeffers posted bond for Cheney but was unable to do so for himself. Jeffers later learned that Cheney was giving the police information about Jeffers' heroin transactions. Jeffers wrote a note to another jail inmate offering him money if he would kill Cheney, but a guard intercepted the note. Jeffers was released from jail in October 1976, and moved into a Tucson motel with Doris Van Der Veer. On October 20, 1976, Jeffers lured Cheney to the motel by promising her heroin. Van Der Veer left the room. When she returned 2 hours later, Cheney was lying unconscious on the bed. Jeffers had injected Cheney with an overdose of heroin, but was upset that she had not died. Jeffers began choking Cheney with Cheney's belt, then discarded the belt and used his hands. He then ordered Van Der Veer to inject more heroin into Cheney. Jeffers then climbed on top of Cheney and began hitting her in the face while calling her a "bitch" and a "dirty snitch" and stating, as each blow landed, that " [t] his one is for [naming several names]. " Jeffers kept the body in the shower stall for 3 days, then buried it in a secluded area near Sedona.

TRIAL COURT PROCEEDINGS

Presiding Judge: Ben C. Birdsall
Prosecutors: James Himelic and D. Jesse Smith
Start of Trial: January 10, 1978
Verdict: February 9, 1978
Sentencing: April 19, 1978
Resentencing:July 10, 1980

Aggravating Circumstances
    Grave risk of death to others (struck on appeal)
    Especially heinous/cruel/depraved (cruel struck on appeal)

Mitigating Circumstances
    None sufficient to call for leniency

PUBLISHED OPINIONS
    State v. Jeffers 135 Ariz. 404, 661 P.2d 1105 (1983).
    Jeffers v. Ricketts, 627 F. Supp. 1334 (D. Ariz. 1986).
    Jeffers v. Ricketts, 832 F.2d 476 (9th Cir. 1987).
    Lewis v. Jeffers, _ U.S. _, 110 S. Ct. 3287, 111 L. Ed. 2d 606 (1990).

KARL HINZE LaGRAND Date of Birth: October 20, 1963 Defendant:Caucasian Victim:  Caucasian

Shortly after 8:00 on the morning of January 7, 1982, Karl LaGrand and his brother, Walter, entered the Valley National Bank in Marana. Armed with a toy pistol, Karl tried to force Ken Hartsock, the 63-year-old branch manager, to open the vault. Hartsock could not open the vault because he had only half of the combination. The brothers then forced Hartsock and Dawn Lopez, a bank clerk, into Hartsock's office and bound them. After threatening Hartsock with a letter opener, the brothers began beating him. Hartsock died from 24 stab wounds. Karl and Walter tried to kill Lopez by stabbing her six times, then fled the bank.

PROCEEDINGS

Presiding Judge: J. Richard Hannah
Prosecutor: Michael D. Alfred
Start of Trial: January 31, 1984
Verdict:   February 17, 1984
Sentencing:  December 14, 1984

Aggravating Circumstances
    Prior conviction involving violence
    Pecuniary gain
    Especially heinous/cruel/depraved

Mitigating Circumstances
    None sufficient to call for leniency

PUBLISHED OPINIONS

State v. LaGrand (Karl), 152 Ariz. 483, 733 P.2d 1066 (1987).

WALTER BURNHART LaGRAND Date of Birth: January 26, 1962 Defendant:Caucasian Victim:  Caucasian

Shortly after 8:00 on the morning of January 7, 1982, Walter LaGrand and his brother, Karl, entered the Valley National Bank in Marana. Armed with a toy pistol, Karl tried to force Ken Hartsock, the 63-year-old branch manager, to open the vault. Hartsock could not open the -vault because he had only half of the combination. The brothers then forced Hartsock and Dawn Lopez, a bank clerk, into Hartsock's office and bound them. After threatening Hartsock with a letter opener, the brothers began beating him. Hartsock died from 24 stab wounds. Karl and Walter tried to kill Lopez by stabbing her six times, then fled the bank.

PROCEEDINGS

Presiding Judge: J. Richard Hannah
Prosecutor: Michael D. Alfred
Start of Trial: January 31, 1984
Verdict:   February 17, 1984
Sentencing:  December 14, 1984

Aggravating Circumstances
    Prior conviction involving violence
    Pecuniary gain
    Especially heinous/cruel/depraved

Mitigating Circumstances
    None sufficient to call for leniency

PUBLISHED OPINIONS

State v. LaGrand (Walter), 153 Ariz. 21, 734 P.2d 563 (1987).

LUIS MORINE MATA Date of Birth: July 10, 1951 Defendant: Hispanic Victim:  Caucasian

On the evening of March 10, 1977, Mata and his brother, Alonzo, were at their Phoenix apartment with Debra Lopez. When Ms. Lopez got up to leave, Luis Mata stopped her and told her they were going to rape her. The brothers began beating her with a rifle and their fists, and each raped her. They then drove the unconscious victim away from the apartment and Luis killed her by cutting her throat with a knife, nearly decapitating her in the process. Alonzo Mata was also convicted for the murder of Ms. Lopez, but received a life sentence.

PROCEEDINGS

Presiding Judge: Stanley Z. Goodfarb
Prosecutor: Michael Donovan
Start of Trial: October 4, 1977
Verdict: October 17, 1977
Sentencing: December 9, 1977
Resentencing: December 8, 1978

Aggravating Circumstances
    Prior conviction punishable by life imprisonment
    Especially heinous/cruel/depraved

Mitigating Circumstances
    None

PUBLISHED OPINIONS

State v. Mata (Luis), 125 Ariz. 233, 609 P.2d 48 (1980).
Mata v. Ricketts, 937 F.2d 467 (9th Cir. 1991).
Mata v. Ricketts, 981 F.2d 397 (9th Cir. 1992).

On June 13, 1992, a jogger discovered Jennifer Geuder's body lying in a desert area on the east side of Tucson. Ms.Geuder had been shot six times in the head. Jennifer had gone out the previous evening with her boyfriend, Jose Luna, and the defendant, Miller. Unbeknownst to Jennifer, Luna solicited Miller's help in killing her because she was demanding child support payments. Miller and Luna drove Ms. Geuder to Mount Lemmon, where Luna shot her once in the head. Although critically wounded, Jennifer did not die. Miller and Luna drove Jennifer back to a desert area in Tucson. Evidence at trial indicated that Jennifer fought for her life, and tried to hide under her car. Miller shot Jennifer five times in the head. Luna pled guilty to first degree murder and received a life sentence.

PROCEEDINGS
    Presiding Judge: Lawrence Fleischman
    Prosecutor: Rick Unklesbay
    Start of Trial: July 6, 1993
    Verdict:  July 12, 1993
    Sentencing: December 20, 1993

Aggravating Circumstances
    Especially cruel, heinous, and depraved

Mitigating Circumstances
    None sufficient to call for leniency

PUBLISHED OPINIONS
    State v. Miller, 186 Ariz. 314, 921 P.2d 1151 (1996).

ALBERTO IGNACIO ORTIZ Date of Birth: December 21, 1941 Defendant: Hispanic Victim: Hispanic

Ortiz had been involved in an affair with Manuelita McCormack, the mother of his 3-year-old godson. When Mrs. McCormack reconciled with her husband, Ortiz attempted to rekindle the affair. On the evening of December 21, 1978, Ortiz went to the McCormack home while Mr. McCormack was away. After strangling and stabbing Mrs. McCormack, he also stabbed her 9-year-old and 8-year-old daughters. Ortiz then poured gasoline throughout the house and over the body of Mrs. McCormack, and placed a delayed ignition device at the foot of the 3-year-old's bed. Before igniting the gasoline, Ortiz instructed the children to stay in the house until the fire department arrived. The children survived, but Mrs. McCormack did not. These events occurred in Pima County.

PROCEEDINGS
    Presiding Judge: Ben C. Birdsall
    Prosecutor: Ken Peasley
    Start of Trial: June 11, 1979
    Verdict: July 2, 1979
    Sentencing: October 15, 1979

Aggravating Circumstances    
    Prior conviction punishable by life imprisonment (struck on appeal)
    Grave risk of death to others
    Especially heinous/cruel/depraved (cruel struck on appeal)

Mitigating Circumstances
    None sufficient to call for leniency

PUBLISHED OPINIONS
    State v. Ortiz, 131 Ariz. 195, 639 P.2d 1020 (1981).
    Ortiz v. Stewart, 149 F.3d 923 (9th Cir. 1998).

October 27, 1999 - The execution of Ignacio Alberto ORTIZ, was carried out today.   The lethal injection process began at 3:04pm and ended at 3:05pm.  When asked by Corrections Director Terry L Stewart if he had any last words, inmate Ortiz replied "Yes I Do.  Jesus Christ is the Lord.   Heavenly Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." He then repeated the words in Spanish.
Ortiz did not look at the family members of his victim who were in the witness room and offered no apology to them.

Executed by Lethal Injection June 16, 1999:

MICHAEL KENT POLAND Date of Birth: June 11, 1940 Defendant: Caucasian Victims: Caucasian

On May 24, 1977, two Purolator guards, Russell Dempsey and Cecil Newkirk, left Phoenix in an armored van on their run to banks in Prescott, Sedona and Flagstaff. At the Bumblebee Road exit on Interstate- 17, they were stopped by the Polands, who were disguised as highway patrolmen and were driving a car fitted with emergency lights. The Polands took the guards captive and removed close to $300,000 in cash. On May 25, 1977, authorities found the abandoned Purolator van. That morning, Michael rented a boat at the Lake Mead marina and piloted the boat to a little used landing, where he met his brother. They put the guards into canvas bags, took them across the lake, and dumped them into the water. The bodies surfaced 3 weeks later in a cove on the Nevada side of the lake. The Polands were convicted in federal court on robbery and kidnaping charges, and in state court on the murder charges.

PROCEEDINGS
    Presiding Judge: Paul G. Rosenblatt
    Prosecutors: Billy Hicks (first trial) Melvin McDonald, Wesley Jennings, Steven Twist (second trial)
    Start of Trial: October 23, 1979 (first trial) October 18, 1982 (second trial)
    Verdicts: November 24, 1979 (first trial) November 18, 1982 (second trial)
    Sentencing: April 9, 1980 (first trial) February 3, 1983 (second trial)

Aggravating Circumstances
    Pecuniary gain
    Especially heinous/cruel/depraved (struck on appeal)

Mitigating Circumstances
    None sufficient to call for leniency

PUBLISHED OPINIONS
    United States v. Poland, 659 F.2d 884 (9th Cit. 1981).
    State v. Poland (Michael), 132 Ariz. 269, 645 P.2d 784 (1982).
    State v. Poland (Michael), 144 Ariz. 412, 698 P.2d 207 (1985).
    Poland v. Arizona, 476 U.S. 147, 106 S. Ct. 1749, 90 L. Ed. 2d 123 (1986).
    Poland v. Stewart, 117 F.3d 1094 (9th Cit. 1997).

March 15, 2000 - The Execution  of ADC inmate: Patrick POLAND #41126 by lethal injection was carried out today at ASPC Florence. The execution began at 3.03pm and was completed at 3.07pm.  Poland's last words included an apology to the families of the victims.  His last words were, "If I may, once again, to the Newkirk and Dempsey families, please accept my apologies. I'm sincere. I'm sorry for the pain and suffering I have caused.  I do thank you for your forgiveness.  I ask my family to forgive me for the pain I have caused them.  I ask all my friends and people who believed in me to please forgive me, and I ask the woman I love to remember I will always love her."

February 9, 2000 -  A Warrant of Execution has been issued for the execution of  Patrick POLAND #41126 on March 15, 2000

PATRICK GENE POLAND Date of Birth: March 8, 1950 Defendant: Caucasian Victims: Caucasian

On May 24, 1977, two Purolator guards, Russell Dempsey and Cecil Newkirk, left Phoenix in an armored van on their run to banks in Prescott, Sedona and Flagstaff. At the Bumblebee Road exit on Interstate- 17, they were stopped by the Polands, who were disguised as highway patrolmen and were driving a car fitted with emergency lights. The Polands took the guards captive and removed close to $300,000 in cash. On May 25, 1977, authorities found the abandoned Purolator van. That morning, Michael rented a boat at the Lake Mead marina and piloted the boat to a little used landing, where he met his brother. They put the guards into canvas bags, took them across the lake, and dumped them into the water. The bodies surfaced 3 weeks later in a cove on the Nevada side of the lake. The Polands were convicted in federal court on robbery and kidnaping charges, and in state court on the murder charges.

PROCEEDINGS
    Presiding Judge: Paul G. Rosenblatt
    Prosecutors: Billy Hicks (first trial) Melvin McDonald, Wesley Jennings, Steven Twist (second trial)
    Start of Trial: October 23, 1979 (first trial) October 18, 1982 (second trial)
    Verdicts: November 24, 1979 (first trial) November 18, 1982 (second trial)
    Sentencing: April 9, 1980 (first trial) February 3, 1983 (second trial)

Aggravating Circumstances
    Prior conviction involving violence
    Pecuniary gain Especially heinous/cruel/depraved (struck on appeal)
    Mitigating Circumstances None sufficient to call for leniency

PUBLISHED OPINIONS
    United States v. Poland, 659 F.2d 884 (9th Cir. 1981).
    State v. Poland (Patrick), 132 Ariz. 269, 645 P.2d 784 (1982).
    State v. Poland (Patrick), 144 Ariz. 388, 698 P.2d 183 (1985).
    Poland v. Arizona, 476 U.S. 147, 106 S. Ct. 1749, 90 L. Ed. 2d 123 (1986).
    Poland v. Stewart, 151 F.3d 1014 (9th Cir. 1998).

ARTHUR MARTIN ROSS Date of Birth: May 24, 1954 Defendant:Caucasian Victim:  Caucasian

On April 10, 1990, Arthur Ross telephoned the victim, a 26-year-old male real estate agent. He told the victim that he was a business man interested in leasing a vacant office at the comer of Ina and Thorneydale in Tucson. Ross met with the victim, and once inside the business, shot the victim twice in the head with a nine millimeter handgun. Ross fled with the victim's wallet, which contained a credit card, a bank card, and identification. He than used the bank card to withdraw approximately $800 from the victim's account at automatic teller machines in Tucson and Casa Grande. The victim's roommate and a co-worker became concerned when he did not return from the appointment. They obtained his appointment book and went to the office building, where they found the body. Police followed a trail of credit card and bank card transactions, which led to the defendant's arrest in Casa Grande on April 14, 1990.

PROCEEDINGS

Presiding Judge: Michael D. Alfred
Prosecutor:  Rick Unklesbay
Start of Trial:  December 18, 1990
Verdict:  February 1, 1991
Sentencing: April 19, 1991

Aggravating Circumstances
    Pecuniary gain
    Especially heinous/depraved

Mitigating Circumstances
    None sufficient to call for leniency

PUBLISHED OPINIONS

State v. Ross, 180 Ariz. 598, 886 P.2d 1354 (1994).

ROBERT WAYNE VICKERS Date of Birth: April 29, 1958 Defendant: Caucasian Victim: Caucasian

On March 4, 1982, Vickers was an inmate on death row at the Arizona State in Florence as a result of killing Frank Ponciano. At around 6:30 p.m., Vickers was out of his cell, allegedly doing clean-up chores. Instead, he went to the cell of Buster Holsinger, another death row inmate. Vickers was upset over an earlier remark Holsinger had made about Vickers' niece. Vickers doused Holsinger and his cell with some Vitalis he had been saving and then threw burning toilet paper on Holsinger, setting him ablaze. Holsinger died as a result of tracheobronchial bums suffered in the resulting flash fire.

PROCEEDINGS
    Presiding Judge: Robert R. Bean (first trial) James E. Don (second trial)
    Prosecutors: Victor Cook (first trial) Barry McNaughton (second trial)
    Start of Trial:  September 28, 1982 (first trial) October 16, 1985 (second trial)
    Verdict: September 29, 1982 (first trial) October 25, 1985 (second trial)
    Sentencing: October 18, 1982 (first trial) April 24, 1986 (second trial)

Aggravating Circumstances    
    Prior convictions punishable by life imprisonment
    Prior convictions involving violence
    Risk of death to others
    Especially heinous/cruel/depraved
    Committed offense while in custody

Mitigating Circumstances
    None

PUBLISHED OPINIONS
    State v. Vickers, 138 Ariz. 450, 675 P.2d 710 (1983).
    State v. Vickers, 159 Ariz. 532, 768 P.2d 1177 (1989).
    Vickers v. Stewart, 144 F.3d 613 (9th Cit. 1998).

JOSE ROBERTO VILLAFUERTE Date of Birth: December 2, 1952 Defendant: Hispanic Victim:  Hispanic

On February 22, 1983, Villafuerte was arrested near Ash Fork in connection with a disturbance. He had been driving a car belonging to Amelia Schoville. Villafuerte eventually told authorities that Schoville was his girlfriend and that they had fought the day before in his Phoenix trailer. He claimed he had loosely bound Schoville to keep her from calling the police and had then left in her car. When Phoenix police officers went to the trailer, they found Schoville's body on a bed. She was clad only in a blouse, bra, and panties, and her hands were tied behind her back. A strip of bedding bound one of her ankles to her hands, and her head was wrapped in a sheet, a bedspread, and long thermal underwear, all of which were bloodstained. A ball made of a tightly wrapped strip of bed sheet was found in her throat. Lab tests showed the presence of seminal fluid in her vagina. Schoville had died as a result of gagging.

PROCEEDINGS

Presiding Judge: Paul LaPrade
Prosecutor:  James Minter
Start of Trial:  July 11, 1983
Verdict: July 18, 1983
Sentencing: September 9, 1983

Aggravating Circumstances
    Especially cruel/depraved

Mitigating Circumstances
    None

PUBLISHED OPINIONS

State v. Villafuerte, 142 Ariz. 323, 690 P.2d 42 (1984).

WILLIAM LYLE WORATZECK Date of Birth: September 11, 1945 Defendant: Caucasian Victim:  Caucasian

Linda Louise Leslie was a 36-year-old woman who, because of Huntington's Chorea, had the mental capacity of a 15-year-old. She lived in a small sleeping room she rented from Woratzeck in Pinal County. On March 6, 1980, at approximately 2:30 a.m., Woratzeck broke into this room, strangled, stabbed and beat Ms. Leslie to death, and robbed her of approximately $107. He then set the shed on fire.

PROCEEDINGS

Presiding Judge: Robert R. Bean
Prosecutor:  W. Allen Stooks
Start of Trial:  September 10, 1980
Verdict: September 15, 1980
Sentencing: November 10, 1980

Aggravating Circumstances
    Pecuniary gain
    Especially heinous/cruel/depraved (cruel struck on appeal)

Mitigating Circumstances
    None

PUBLISHED OPINIONS

State v. Woratzeck, 134 Ariz. 452, 657 P.2d 865 (1982).
Woratzeck v. Ricketts, 799 F.2d 1365 (9th Cir. 1986).
Woratzeck v. Ricketts, 808 F.2d 1322 (9th Cir. 1986).
Woratzeck v. Ricketts, 820 F.2d 1450 (9th Cir. 1987).
Woratzeck v. Ricketts, 859 F.2d 1559 (9th Cir. 1988).