Convicted killer Richard Djerf dies by lethal injection in Arizona’s 2nd execution this year

PHOENIX — Convicted killer Richard Djerf died by lethal injection on Friday morning as the death penalty was carried out in Arizona for the second time this year.

Djerf, 55, was executed by a pentobarbital injection at the Arizona State Prison Complex in Florence. The time of death was 10:40 a.m., according to the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation & Reentry (ADCRR).

John Barcello, ADCRR’s deputy director, said IVs began being inserted at 10:05 a.m. The process was completed at 10:21 a.m.

“Mr. Djerf’s veins were not optimal, which was expected, resulting in a few attempts prior to a successful IV placement,” Barcello said.

Djerf then received a total of four injections, with the final injection completed at 10:28 a.m.

“I can say this process went according to ADCRR policy and procedure,” Barcello said.

The deputy director added that prior to the execution, when Djerf was asked if he had any last words, he replied, “I do not.”

In a statement after the execution, Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said cases like Djerf’s are why the state uses the death penalty.

“There are some crimes so unspeakable, so devoid of humanity, that justice demands the ultimate punishment. This is that case. Richard Djerf is a prime example of why the death penalty exists. What this man did in 1993, torturing and murdering nearly an entire family, was pure evil. Today was a day of final justice—not only for the memory of the four innocent lives he took, but also for the only surviving son and the extended Luna family, who have carried the weight of that loss every single day. May this bring them some measure of finality.”

What did Richard Djerf do?

On Sept. 14, 1993, Djerf murdered Patricia and Albert Luna Sr., along with their children, Rochelle and Damien, at their home in Phoenix.

During the crime, Djerf sexually assaulted Rochelle Luna and slashed her throat; beat Albert Luna Sr. with a baseball bat and stabbed and shot him; and tied Patricia and Damien Luna to chairs before shooting and killing them, according to authorities.

The murders were reportedly retribution after Djerf blamed the Lunas’ other son, Albert Luna Jr., for stealing electronics from his apartment months earlier, prosecutors said.

Djerf was charged with the murders in 1993.

He was also charged with kidnapping, assault, sexual assault, burglary, theft and attempted arson, but those charges were dismissed as part of a plea agreement in 1995.

Djerf was ultimately given the death sentence for each of the murders.

He used all of his state and federal appeals, but the Arizona Supreme Court upheld the death sentences and stated he entered the guilty pleas “knowingly, voluntarily and intelligently.”

A warrant was issued for Djerf’s execution in August and Djerf gave up his right to seek a reprieve from the Arizona Clemency Board in September.

Arizona carries out 2nd execution of 2025

Djerf’s execution was Arizona’s successful use of the death penalty this year, as Aaron Gunches was executed on March 19 for the murder of Ted Price in 2002.

Before Gunches’ execution, Arizona had not carried out the death penalty since 2022, when three death row inmates were put to death.

Those followed a nearly eight-year-long hiatus, which was due to criticism after the botched execution of Joseph Wood in 2014.

Arizona currently has 107 prisoners on death row.

Djerf’s execution was the fourth to take place nationwide this week and the 39th this year.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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