Date of Birth December 14, 1956
Executed May 22, 2007
Defendant: White/Anglo
Victim: White/Anglo
On February 3, 1987, Comer and his girlfriend, Juneva Willis, were at a campground near Apache Lake. They invited Larry Pritchard, who was at the campsite next to theirs, to have dinner and drinks with them. Around 9:00 p.m., Comer shot Pritchard in the head, killing him. He and Willis then stole Pritchard's belongings. Around 11: 00 p.m., Comer and Willis went to a campsite occupied by Richard Brough and Tracy Andrews. Comer stole their property, hogtied Brough to a car fender, and then raped Andrews in front of Brough. Comer and Willis then left the area, taking Andrews with them, but leaving Brough behind. Andrews escaped the next morning and ran for 23 hours before finding help. Willis pled guilty to kidnapping and testified against Comer. Since March 2000, Comer has been attempting to withdraw his federal appeals so he can be executed. The Ninth Circuit Court granted his request in early 2007.
PROCEEDINGS
Presiding Judge: Ronald S. Reinstein
Prosecutor: K.C. Skull
Defense Counsel: Roland Steinle, Ann Hutchins, and Stephen Venezia
Start of Trial: January 6, 1988
Verdict: January 21, 1988
Sentencing: April 11, 1988
Aggravating Circumstances
Prior convictions involving violence
Pecuniary gain
Especially heinous, cruel or depraved
PUBLISHED OPINIONS
State v. Comer, 165 Ariz. 413, 799 P.2d 333 (1990).
Comer v. Stewart, 215 F.3d 910 (9th Cir. 2000).
Comer v. Stewart, 230 F.Supp. 1016 (D. Ariz., 2002).
Comer v. Stewart, 312 F.3d 1157 (9th Cir. 2002).
Comer v. Schriro, 458 F.3d 891 (9th Cir. 2006).
Comer v. Schriro, 463 F.3d 934 (9th cir. 2006).
Comer v. Schriro, 480 F.3d 960 (9th Cir. 2007).