Convicted Killer Scheduled for Execution After 30 Years

UPDATE: A convicted killer, Richard Kenneth Djerf, is set to be executed by lethal injection at the Arizona State Prison Complex in Florence, marking a chilling conclusion to a horrific quadruple murder committed over 30 years ago. Djerf, aged 55, will face execution on May 2025, making it the 39th execution in the United States this year.

In a shocking twist, Djerf, who brazenly referred to his gruesome crime as “really awesome,” murdered Albert Luna Sr., Patricia Luna, their daughter Rochelle, aged 18, and son Damien, aged 5, on September 14, 1993, at their home in Phoenix. Djerf committed these brutal acts as part of a revenge plot after a conflict with Albert Luna Jr., whom he accused of stealing electronics from him.

Prosecutors revealed that after initially reporting the alleged robbery to the police, Djerf became consumed by revenge, leading him to invade the Luna family home under the pretense of delivering flowers. Once inside, he forced Patricia to assist him in loading their belongings into his vehicle before subjecting her and Damien to unspeakable horrors. Djerf tied them up, gagged them, and raped Rochelle before slashing her throat.

As the horrific events unfolded, Albert Luna Sr. returned home, only to be attacked by Djerf, who struck him with a baseball bat before ultimately shooting him and the rest of the family in cold blood. Djerf later attempted to set the house ablaze before fleeing in the Luna family car, where he fabricated a story about being robbed and attacked.

The murders remained unsolved until Albert Luna Jr. returned home the next day and contacted authorities. Djerf’s confession to his girlfriend about the murders led to his arrest shortly after. During his trial, he pled guilty to four counts of first-degree murder, unsuccessfully hoping to avoid the death penalty. On May 22, 1996, he received four death sentences, which he dismissed with a chilling remark, stating, “They can only kill me once.”

As of April 2021, Djerf had exhausted all legal appeals, prompting the Arizona Attorney General’s office to seek an execution date. His scheduled execution will make him the second inmate executed in Arizona this year. Djerf expressed remorse in a handwritten letter, claiming he hoped his death would provide some peace to the victims’ families.

Currently, there are 108 inmates on Arizona’s death row, and Djerf’s case has reignited discussions about capital punishment in the United States. This execution represents not only a long-awaited closure for the Luna family but also a significant moment in the ongoing debate surrounding the death penalty.

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