PHOENIX (AP) - Richard Kenneth Djerf, a 55-year-old man convicted of murdering four members of a Phoenix family over 30 years ago, is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection on Friday. This execution marks Arizona's second of the year. Djerf has been in custody for nearly three decades, having pleaded guilty to killing Albert Luna Sr. and Patricia Luna, along with their 18-year-old daughter Rochelle and 5-year-old son Damien on September 14, 1993. He opted not to seek clemency.
The execution is expected to take place at the Arizona State Prison Complex in Florence and involves the use of pentobarbital, a drug administered through injection. Should the execution proceed as planned, it will be the fourth execution nationwide this week and the 39th carried out in the U.S. in 2023.
Prosecutors revealed that Djerf's motives were tied to an alleged theft of electronics from his apartment by a family member, Albert Luna Jr., who was not present during the murders. Djerf became fixated on revenge, ultimately visiting the Lunas' home months later under the pretense of delivering flowers.
Tragically, during the attack, Djerf violently assaulted the family: he raped Rochelle Luna and slit her throat, bludgeoned Albert Luna Sr. with an aluminum baseball bat before stabbing and shooting him, and tied Patricia and Damien Luna to kitchen chairs before fatally shooting them. This brutal crime has left a lasting impact on the community.
During the execution, a specialized team consisting of medical professionals and a phlebotomist will be responsible for preparing the necessary syringes filled with saline and pentobarbital. There have been past criticisms regarding the time taken to set up intravenous lines for lethal injections in Arizona. Experts recommend a timeframe of seven to ten minutes from the start of IV insertion until the pronouncement of death, but past executions have not always met this standard. Arizona has paused executions twice since 2014 due to concerns related to its death penalty procedures.
A significant eight-year hiatus from executions resulted from difficulties in procuring lethal drugs and the fallout from a 2014 botched execution of Joseph Wood, who suffered significantly before his death. Following this, executions resumed in 2022, with three prisoners executed that year. However, the state again paused executions in 2023 when Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs ordered a comprehensive review of capital punishment protocols. The review, which concluded in November 2024, led to changes in the lethal injection team in Arizona.
Prior to Djerf's execution, Aaron Brian Gunches was the last prisoner executed in Arizona in March 2023 for the murder of Ted Price in 2002. Presently, there are 108 inmates on death row in the state.
As Arizona approaches this execution, it brings renewed focus on the controversial nature of the death penalty and the complexities surrounding its administration in the state and across the nation.
