Ted Price’s loved ones share feelings after his killer’s long-awaited execution

PHOENIX — Ted Price’s loved ones shared their feelings after his killer was put to death Wednesday in Arizona’s first execution since 2022.

Aaron Gunches, who shot and killed Price in 2002, died by lethal injection at the Arizona State Prison in Florence.

The long legal fight for justice ended with Gunches’ last breath, according to the victim’s sister.

“I don’t think we ever thought this day would come,” Karen Price said during a media briefing after the execution. “It’s kind of surreal.”

Why was the execution of Aaron Gunches delayed?

Gunches was on death row since 2008. His execution was just the fourth in Arizona in the last decade.

The state put a hold on carrying out the death penalty for nearly eight years after the botched execution of Joseph Wood in November 2014. Then after three executions in 2022, Gov. Katie Hobbs instituted another pause in 2023 so a thorough review of the death penalty process could be conducted.

Gunches has been scheduled to be put to death in April 2023, but it was delayed further by Hobbs’ decision.

“Over 22 years is an unconstitutionally long time for a victim’s family to wait for a sentence to be carried out,” Colleen Clase, Karen Price’s attorney, said during the post-execution media briefing.

Ted Price’s sister says justice has been served

Gunches showed no remorse during the execution process, which lasted for around half an hour, Clase said.

Media witnesses who watched the execution also said Gunches was silent — aside from “heavy breathing” once the injections were administered — and stared straight ahead.

Price said she can finally move on after the long legal fight.

Holding back tears, she talked about the last time she saw her brother, alluding to a photo on display as she spoke.

“I took it when we dropped him off at the Salt Lake City airport following my grandmother’s funeral,” Price said. “It’s ironic that he was waving goodbye because that was the last time I saw him alive. It’s a memory I’ll carry with me forever.”

Gunches would kidnap and murder her brother about nine months after the photo was taken.

Ted Price’s daughter shared thoughts in a letter

Ted Price would have been 63 years old this year.

His daughter, Brittany Price, was not present at the execution, but she provided a statement that was read afterward by Carrie Howe, the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry victim services administrator.

“I love and miss you so much, Daddy. May you finally rest in peace,” Brittany Price wrote.

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