Arizona Executes Richard Djerf for 1993 Phoenix Quadruple Homicide

Arizona executed a death row inmate on Friday for a brutal 1993 quadruple murder. Richard Kenneth Djerf, 55, was put to death by lethal injection at the state prison in Florence. His execution was the state’s second this year.

The killings were an act of revenge over stolen property. Djerf was convicted of murdering four members of the Luna family in their Phoenix home. He spent over 29 years in prison before his execution.

Details of the 1993 Attack

Court records state Djerf blamed Albert Luna Jr. for a prior theft. He became obsessed with retaliation. On September 14, 1993, he arrived at the Luna family home pretending to deliver flowers.

Once inside, he carried out a horrific attack. According to prosecutors, he sexually assaulted 18-year-old Rochelle Luna and slashed her throat. He then beat Albert Luna Sr. with a baseball bat and stabbed and shot him.

He also tied Patricia Luna and her 5-year-old son, Damien, to chairs. He then fatally shot them. Albert Luna Jr. was not present during the killings.

Arizona’s Resumption of Capital Punishment

This execution marks a continued return of the death penalty in Arizona. The state had paused executions twice since 2014. One hiatus followed a botched execution that took nearly two hours.

According to Reuters, the review of execution procedures ended in late 2024. The state then resumed carrying out death sentences. Djerf’s execution was the 39th in the United States this year.

There are still 107 prisoners on Arizona’s death row. Five more executions are scheduled in other states before the year ends. The debate over capital punishment continues.

The execution of Richard Djerf closes a decades-old case that horrified Phoenix. The Arizona attorney general’s office stated the victims finally received justice. This event underscores the state’s renewed commitment to carrying out capital punishment sentences.

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Who was Richard Djerf?

Richard Kenneth Djerf was a 55-year-old inmate executed by Arizona. He was convicted of murdering four members of the Luna family in Phoenix in 1993 as an act of revenge.

How many executions has Arizona carried out?

Djerf’s execution was the second in Arizona this year. It was the 39th execution nationwide in 2024, according to state and national records.

Why did Arizona pause executions previously?

Arizona halted executions after a 2014 procedure was heavily criticized. The state also faced difficulties obtaining the necessary drugs for lethal injections, leading to a nearly eight-year hiatus.

What was Djerf’s motive for the killings?

Prosecutors said Djerf sought revenge. He blamed a family member for stealing electronics and a gun from his apartment months before the attack.

How many people are on Arizona’s death row now?

Following this execution, 107 prisoners remain on Arizona’s death row. The state’s capital punishment system continues to process these cases.