Attorney General Mayes Seeks Approval for Second Execution Showdown

Richard Djerf is set to be the second man executed in Arizona this year, following Attorney General Kris Mayes’ recent decision.

Djerf’s execution is anticipated to take place between August and September 2023. Mayes’ motion indicates her steadfast support for capital punishment within the state.

On May 22, Mayes filed a motion to establish a briefing schedule for Djerf’s execution warrant. This decision highlights her commitment to enforcing the death penalty as mandated by state law.

“I will continue to enforce the death penalty because it is the law in Arizona, and victims deserve justice,” Mayes stated. “The heinous murders by Richard Djerf of the Luna family, including their five-year-old son, shock the conscience. Their loved ones have waited 32 years to see justice served.”

At a press conference on April 23, Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell identified Djerf as a candidate for a future death warrant. She underlined the urgency of providing closure to the victims’ families.

According to court documents, Djerf murdered four members of the Luna family—Albert, Patricia, Rochelle, and Damien—out of revenge for a prior theft by Albert Luna, Jr., a coworker.

Sentenced to death in 1996, Djerf pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree murder. He exhausted his appeals by 2019.

Mayes’ motion initiates the process for the Arizona Supreme Court to review and rule on the execution warrant. It also triggers preparations for the lethal injection drugs to be utilized in the execution.

The state plans to file its motion for the execution warrant on July 3. Djerf’s response is expected by July 17, followed by a reply on July 24, and a conference on July 29.

Djerf’s case will mark Arizona’s second execution since the state briefly paused capital punishment in 2023 amid a review of lethal injection procedures.