Decades in Pursuit of Death: Aaron Gunches Set for Execution on March 19

The Arizona Supreme Court has issued a warrant for the execution of Aaron Gunches, who was convicted of murder in 2002. This warrant sets the execution date for March 19, 2024, marking a significant development in a case that has spanned over two decades.

Gunches has long expressed his desire for execution. During his sentencing phase in 2013, he infamously told the jury to “do what you’re going to do.” His behavior in the courtroom raised eyebrows, with presiding Judge Marci Kratter openly remarking on the self-destructive nature of his defense approach.

Throughout the years, Gunches has not filed a single appeal regarding his death sentence. Instead, he has persistently asked Arizona courts to carry out the execution, even coming close in 2022 before a shift in gubernatorial leadership stalled the process. Recent months saw others filing “friend of the court” briefs, raising concerns about the lethal injection methods used by the state.

Despite these interventions, Gunches made no attempt to oppose the state’s motion for his execution. The Supreme Court acknowledged this lack of response, indicating that he does not dispute the legal requirements for the warrant.

The murder committed by Gunches in 2002 was tragic and unplanned. After visiting his girlfriend in Mesa, he encountered her ex-husband, Ted Price, who had been attacked. Instead of helping, Gunches shot Price multiple times in the back of the head after a failed attempt to send him away. Following a subsequent confrontation with law enforcement, he was apprehended the next day.

After pleading guilty to first-degree murder in 2004, Gunches faced a trial for the death penalty. Acting as his own attorney, he provided no defense, leading to a death sentence in 2008. The Arizona Supreme Court later invalidated that sentence, arguing that the circumstances of the murder did not meet the criteria for being deemed “cruel and heinous.”

At a retrial in 2013, Gunches again failed to mount a defense, leading to a renewed death sentence. His actions in court were not only uncooperative but also detrimental to his case. Kratter, his advisory counsel, described his mental state as concerning, suggesting that he was not fit for a capital trial.

In the years following his sentencing, Gunches expressed a desire for execution through letters addressed to state officials. Following years of litigation concerning lethal injection protocols, his warrant has now been activated. Attorney General Mark Brnovich’s administration pursued several execution warrants in 2022, but Gunches’ execution stalled under the new administration.

Recent developments included a challenge from legal scholars and medical professionals, arguingabout the potential cruelty of Arizona’s execution methods. However, the Arizona Supreme Court reiterated that their focus is strictly on whether the legal prerequisites for the execution warrant are met.

As the case unfolds, the court continues to stand firm, confirming that the requirements have been satisfied and upholding the state’s motion to proceed with Gunches’ execution.