Ricky Wassenaar admitted to killing three fellow inmates at a Tucson state prison in April—and claimed a fourth murder months earlier—but despite his confessions and apparent video evidence, prosecutors have yet to charge him.
Wassenaar, 62, reportedly warned both prison officials and advocates that he would kill anyone placed in his cell. He followed through on that threat, beginning with the death of his cellmate Joseph DeSisto, 81, last November. Though Wassenaar described the killing in detail, an autopsy couldn’t confirm it as a homicide, and he wasn’t charged.
Then on April 4, prison staff placed Saul Alvarez—a convicted rapist and murderer—in Wassenaar’s cell. Wassenaar later claimed he strangled Alvarez and stabbed him through the eye. He then went onto the yard with a rock in a laundry bag and attacked other prisoners, killing Thorne Harnage and Donald Lashley, and injuring a fourth.
Despite his confessions—some made in phone calls to media outlets—and confirmation from the Arizona Department of Corrections that he faces three internal disciplinary charges of first-degree murder, no criminal charges were filed for months.
That finally changed Monday evening, after nearly four months of inquiries from The Arizona Mirror. A public information officer from the Department of Corrections confirmed that the case was referred to the Pinal County Attorney’s Office. Minutes later, the county confirmed it had received the charging documents.
Pinal County prosecutors now say they will need 90 days to review the case before moving forward. Charges won’t be official until a grand jury is convened.
The delay has raised serious questions. Originally, the case was expected to be handled by the Pima County Attorney’s Office, but it was transferred to Pinal County due to an unspecified conflict of interest. Pima County Attorney Laura Conover has publicly opposed the death penalty, which may have influenced the shift.
Legal experts and former prosecutors say the delay is unusual, especially given the clarity of the evidence. Kenneth Fields, a retired judge and former federal prosecutor, called it “strange” and pointed to “gross incompetence” by prison staff. Former Pinal County charging unit lead John Canby questioned whether officials were “slow walking” the case or intentionally withholding information.
Under Arizona law, the triple homicide and Wassenaar’s criminal history make him eligible for the death penalty. But he’s already serving 16 life sentences for a 2004 prison takeover at Lewis Prison, during which he and another inmate held two guards hostage for 14 days.
In June, Wassenaar told prison advocate Donna Hamm he was willing to plead guilty and accept the death penalty—on the condition that he could publicly express his grievances against the Department of Corrections. However, legal procedures require a jury or judge to formally impose a death sentence, regardless of a defendant’s wishes.
Hamm also shared that Wassenaar had oddly asked her to help find attorneys for the families of his victims, which she did.
Now, as the case awaits grand jury review in Pinal County, questions linger about how such deadly violence was allowed to happen—and why it took months for any criminal charges to move forward.
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Katie is a senior who has been on staff for three years. Her favorite type of stories to write is reviews and features. Katie’s favorite ice cream flavor is strawberry.
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