Arizona Prepares to Execute Phoenix Family Killer from 1993
Arizona recently carried out its second execution of the year, executing Richard Kenneth Djerf for the 1993 murders of four Phoenix family members. Djerf, aged 55, was executed at the Arizona State Prison Complex in Florence. The execution highlights the state’s continued enforcement of capital punishment.
Details of the 1993 Phoenix Family Murders
Djerf pleaded guilty to a brutal attack on the Luna family on September 14, 1993. The tragic incident led to the deaths of Albert Luna Sr., his wife Patricia Luna, their daughter Rochelle Luna, aged 18, and their young son Damien Luna, aged 5. Djerf committed the murders as an act of revenge associated with a previous theft incident involving the Luna family.
Execution Process
The execution involved the administration of pentobarbital, which was injected by a team including medical personnel. This team prepared the chemicals and inserted the IV needed for the procedure. This execution marked the fourth in the United States within the week and the 39th of the year.
Arizona’s History with Capital Punishment
Arizona has faced criticism and challenges in its execution protocols. Complications arose in 2014, following a notorious incident where an execution took an excessively long time, leading to a pause in capital punishment until 2022. Executions resumed that year but were briefly halted again in 2023 after Governor Katie Hobbs initiated a review.
Current State of Arizona’s Death Row
- 108 inmates currently await execution on Arizona’s death row.
- Executions were paused twice since 2014 due to procedural concerns.
- Governor Hobbs’s review resulted in changes to the lethal injection team.
Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell articulated her stance on the execution, emphasizing the severity of Djerf’s crimes and reinforcing the justification for capital punishment in extreme cases. This execution underscores the ongoing debate about the death penalty’s role and administration in Arizona and beyond.
