Prosecutors Call Killings an “Act of Revenge”
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has filed a warrant of execution for Richard Kenneth Djerf, who was convicted of murdering four members of a Phoenix family more than 30 years ago.
The filing comes after Mayes previously submitted a motion to set a briefing schedule for the death penalty. Now, her office is asking the Arizona Supreme Court to schedule Djerf’s execution for October 14, 2025.
In September 1993, Djerf brutally murdered his coworker’s family—Albert Luna Sr., Damien, Patricia, and Rochelle Luna—and then attempted to set their house on fire. Prosecutors say he carried out the killings as an “act of revenge” against Albert Luna Jr., who discovered the bodies when he returned home to their west Phoenix residence.
Djerf later spoke with Arizona’s Family anchor Scott Pasmore in a 1995 interview, expressing regret for his actions. When asked if he was sorry, Djerf responded, “Absolutely. I screwed up a lot of lives.”
After decades of legal proceedings, Djerf has exhausted all appeals in his case. With the motion now in place, the state moves one step closer to carrying out the sentence.
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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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