John Fitzgerald was sentenced to death by the State of Arizona for the murder of his mother. According to court documents John Fitzgerald arranged a ride to his mother’s home with her fiance as he wanted his visit to be a surprise. When they reached Margaret Larkin home an she opened the door John Fitzgerald pulled out of a samurai sword and struck his mother several times, the victim did not die so Fitzgerald pulled out a gun and shot her twice in the head. John Fitzgerald was arrested several blocks away from the murder scene. He would be convicted and sentenced to death.
John Fitzgerald 2021 Information
ASPC Eyman, Browning Unit
PO Box 3400
JOHN V. FITZGERALD 256148
Florence, AZ 85132
United States
John Fitzgerald More News
On the evening of April 15, 2005, John Fitzgerald was picked up at a Budget Suites Motel by his mother’s fiancé, James Totten. Fitzgerald had traveled to Arizona from Hawaii, where he was residing at the time. Weeks before, Fitzgerald had called and told James that he wanted to give his mother a surprise visit and requested a ride to her house, which James agreed to. When they arrived at the house and walked to the front door, James noticed what appeared to be a samurai sword in Fitzgerald’s hands; James had not seen the sword during the drive to the house. When Margaret came to the door Fitzgerald immediately began striking her several times with the sword. As she fell to the floor, Fitzgerald somehow lost control of the sword, pulled out his gun, and fatally shot his mother, Margaret Larkin, twice in the head and walked out the front door. Police were called immediately after and Fitzgerald was arrested without incident while walking on a street a few blocks away from the scene.
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The Arizona Supreme Court on Friday unanimously upheld the convictions and sentences of a death row inmate from Hawaii in the killing of his mother in Arizona.
John Fitzgerald was convicted of killing Margaret Larkin in her Sun City West home on April 15, 2005, the day he traveled to Arizona from Hawaii.
Larkin was a recently retired nursing professor at Glendale Community College.
A Maricopa County Superior Court jury rejected Fitzgerald’s insanity defense and convicted him of first-degree murder and burglary.
A mistrial during the penalty phase of the case resulted in the impaneling of a second jury for sentencing.
The second jury sentenced John Fitzgerald to death on the murder conviction.
A judge sentenced Fitzgerald to 10.5 years in prison on the burglary conviction.
