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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 or depraved 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). |
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