Richard Djerf executed: Maricopa Co. Attorney hails ‘day of final justice’

PHOENIX – An Arizona death-row inmate has been executed.

On the morning of Oct. 17, officials with Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell issued a statement on the execution of Richard Djerf, calling the day “a day of final justice.”

“May this bring them some measure of finality,” read a portion of the statement.

Who was Richard Djerf?

Richard Djerf was convicted of killing a Valley family of four in 1993. His execution will be the second in Arizona this year. In March, Aaron Gunches was put to death.

The backstory:

According to Djerf’s entry on the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation & Reentry’s website for death row inmates, Djerf killed four people: Albert Luna Sr., Patricia Luna, Damien Luna, and Rochelle Luna. Damien was five when he died.

The incident happened on Sept. 14, 1993. Per the ADCRR, Djerf forced himself into the Luna resident at gunpoint, and proceeded to tie and gag Patricia and Damien before the two were ultimately killed. Rochelle and Albert Sr. returned home after Djerf forced himself into the home, and both were killed by Djerf as well.

READ: Phoenix Police Department’s report on Djerf

In filings related to the state’s request to execute Djerf, it was stated that Djerf pleaded guilty to four counts of first degree murder in 1995, but legal battles related to Djerf’s case continued for years, until 2020.