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Murray Hooper Arizona Death Row

Murray Hooper was sentenced to death by the State of Arizona for a double murder committed during a robbery. According to court documents Murray Hopper and two accomplices forced their way into a home where they would shoot three people inside of the home. One would survive and later identified the three suspects. Murray Hooper was arrested, convicted and sentenced to death

Arizona Death Row Inmate List

Murray Hooper Execution

Murray Hooper 2021 Information

ASPC Florence, Central Unit
PO Box 8200
MURRAY HOOPER 047621
Florence, AZ 85132
United States

Murray Hooper More News

On the evening of December 31, 1980, William Bracy and Murray Hooper (both of whom were from Chicago), and Edward McCall (a former Phoenix police officer) went to the Home of Patrick Redmond in Phoenix. Mr. Redmond, his wife, and his mother-in-law, Helen Phelps, were at home preparing for a New Year’s Eve party. Bracy, Hooper, and McCall entered the house at gunpoint and forced the Redmonds and Mrs. Phelps into the master bedroom.

After taking jewelry and money, the intruders bound and gagged the victims. They then shot each victim in the head and also slashed Mr. Redmond’s throat. Mr. Redmond and Mrs. Phelps died from their wounds, but Mrs. Redmond survived and later identified all three killers. Bracy and Hooper were convicted of the murders following a joint trial. McCall and Robert Cruz (who was alleged to have hired the killers) were also convicted of the murders following a joint trial. Cruz won a new trial on appeal, was convicted again, won another new trial on appeal, and was ultimately found not guilty. Joyce Lukezic (the wife of Mr. Redmond’s business partner) was also charged with the murders, and was convicted in a separate trial. After obtaining a new trial, she was found not guilty.

Murray Hooper Other News

federal appeals court on Monday strongly criticized an earlier Illinois Supreme Court decision as it ordered a new hearing for a former Chicago hit man to determine whether jury selection at his 1981 murder trial was tainted by racism.

The Cook County jury trial of Murray Hooper, now 67, was held before Judge Thomas J. Maloney, who was convicted in 1993 of taking bribes to fix cases.

Hooper was a killer for the Royal Family street gang, a now-vanished group that formed in Stateville prison in the early 1970s and was thought to be responsible for more than 30 murders, including that of a woman who hired them to kill her husband but was herself slain after her spouse offered more money. Hooper is on death row in Arizona for two Phoenix murders.

Monday’s ruling by the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had nothing to do with Hooper’s guilt or innocence. He and two others were convicted of the 1980 murders of three drug dealers whose bodies were found in a car parked several blocks from what was then Chicago police headquarters.

The federal appeals court addressed only the procedure by which Hooper, who is black, was convicted. It found that the Illinois Supreme Court made “at least four errors” in affirming Maloney’s opinion that prosecutors properly removed potential jurors who were black.

Cook County prosecutors struck every potential black juror — seven from a pool of 63, according to the appellate ruling. Two were removed for cause, while prosecutors used peremptory challenges to remove the remaining five possible jurors who were black. Six Asian or white jurors also were struck.

Among the errors made by the Supreme Court, the appeals court found, was finding that a claim for racial discrimination could be undermined by the race of the participants in the case.

“The Supreme Court of Illinois seems to have thought that using race in jury selection is tolerable as long as the defendant, victims and witnesses all are of the same race,” Chief Judge Frank Easterbrook wrote for the unanimous panel. “That’s a serious legal blunder.”

The appeals court emphasized that its opinion did not establish that prosecutors had removed jurors for racial reasons, only that a hearing on Hooper’s claims was warranted.

Prosecutors can opt for a hearing on the jury selection claims or could offer Hooper another trial, though the federal appeals court noted that both would be difficult now that 30 years have passed.

The Illinois attorney general’s office, which handled the federal appeal, is reviewing the ruling, spokeswoman Maura Possley said.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2013-09-10-ct-met-murder-appeal-racism-20130910-story.html

Abel Hidalgo Arizona Death Row

Abel Hidalgo was sentenced to death by the State of Arizona for two murders. According to court documents Abel Hidalgo was paid $1000 to murder Michael Cordova. Abel Hidalgo would go to Michael Cordova garage and talked to him about getting work done on his car. When Abel Hidalgo and Michael Cordova went into the garage they were joined by Jose Rojas. Hidalgo would shoot and kill both men. A year later Abel Hildago was arrested, convicted and sentenced to death

Arizona Death Row Inmate List

Abel Hidalgo 2021 Information

ASPC Florence, Central Unit
PO Box 8200
ABEL D. HIDALGO 118526
Florence, AZ 85132
United States

Abel Hidalgo More News

In late December 2000, Hidalgo agreed to kill Michael Cordova in exchange for $1,000 from a gang member. He accepted the offer without knowing Cordova or why the gang wanted him murdered. One morning in January 2001, Hidalgo waited in his car near Cordova’s auto-body shop. When Cordova began unlocking the shop, Hidalgo approached and feigned interest in some repair work. They were joined by Jose Rojas, who occasionally did upholstery work for Cordova and came that morning to retrieve some equipment. After the three men entered the shop, Hidalgo shot Rojas in the back of the head. Hidalgo then shot Cordova in the forehead. Even though the shots were fatal, Hidalgo shot each victim five more times to ensure he died.

¶3 After murdering Cordova and Rojas, Hidalgo went to the home of his godparents, Frank and Barbara Valenzuela. Barbara overheard Hidalgo tell others that he had just murdered two men and wanted to sell his car to Frank because a woman had seen him leave the shop. Frank purchased the car, and a few days later Hidalgo fled Arizona.

¶4 A year later, Barbara informed the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office that Hidalgo murdered Cordova and Rojas. Phoenix Police subsequently interviewed Hidalgo in Idaho, where he had murdered two women in January 2002 and was under federal arrest. Hidalgo confessed to murdering Cordova for $1,000 and to killing Rojas to eliminate an eyewitness.

¶5 Hidalgo pleaded guilty in January 2015 to two counts of first degree murder and one count of first degree burglary. The jury found four aggravating circumstances with respect to the murder of Cordova and three with respect to the murder of Rojas: Hidalgo committed another offense eligible for a sentence of life imprisonment or death under Arizona law; Hidalgo committed prior serious offenses; Hidalgo murdered for pecuniary gain (only with respect to Cordova); and Hidalgo committed multiple homicides. A.R.S. §§ 13-751(F)(1), (F)(2), (F)(5), and (F)(8). Considering these factors and the mitigation evidence, the jury sentenced Hidalgo to death for each murder. The trial court also sentenced Hidalgo to 10.5 years’ imprisonment for the burglary.

https://caselaw.findlaw.com/az-supreme-court/1853067.html

Robert Hernandez Arizona Death Row

Robert Hernandez was sentenced to death by the State of Arizona for a triple murder. According to court documents Robert Hernandez and Daniel Bueno would murder Jeni Sanchez-Rivera, Omar Guzman Diaz and Pablo Guzman Diaz. Robert Hernandez would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to death

Arizona Death Row Inmate List

Robert Hernandez 2021 Information

ASPC Florence, Central Unit
PO Box 8200
ROBERT HERNANDEZ 108033
Florence, AZ 85132
United States

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In April 2008, Maria Diaz–Payan traveled to Phoenix to visit her friend, Jeni Sanchez–Rivera, who lived with her husband, Omar Guzman Diaz. After Maria’s arrival, she, Jeni, Jeni’s son, and Jeni’s friend, Sonia Gonzalez, took a short trip to New Mexico in a car rented by Sonia’s mother, Martha Gonzalez.

¶ 3 Sonia Gonzalez is the mother of Hernandez’s three children. While in New Mexico, Sonia missed a birthday party for one of her and Hernandez’s children, Angel, which angered Hernandez.

¶ 4 The day after returning from New Mexico, Jeni and Maria met Omar and Omar’s younger brother, Pablo Guzman Diaz, and drove to Jeni’s house in Peoria. Upon arriving, Omar and Pablo entered the house first, while Jeni and Maria stayed in the car. Shortly thereafter, Hernandez came outside and walked toward the car. Although Maria did not know Hernandez, Jeni referred to him as “Bobby.” Removing a gun from his pants, Hernandez forced Maria and Jeni into the house, telling them not to scream or make any noise.

¶ 5 Once inside, Maria could hear Omar and Pablo crying and shouting from inside Jeni’s bedroom. While Hernandez forced Maria and Jeni down a corridor to another bedroom, Maria saw another man wearing a ski mask and holding a pistol in Jeni’s bedroom. She could hear Omar and Pablo pleading for the men not to hurt them or their family. Maria heard Omar ask Hernandez, “What harm have we done to you, Bobby?”

¶ 6 Hernandez bound Jeni’s and Maria’s hands behind their backs. While on the bedroom floor, Maria did not look at her captors’ faces, hoping they would not harm her. Maria heard Hernandez and Jeni talk about Sonia. Then, Maria heard Hernandez slap Jeni.

¶ 7 After Hernandez returned to Omar and Pablo, Maria heard several gunshots, and Omar’s and Pablo’s cries ended. Shortly thereafter, Hernandez and the masked man walked to the bedroom where Maria and Jeni lay. Maria heard gunshots and “right away noticed that they had already shot [Jeni].” One of the two men then shot Maria.

¶ 8 Sometime later, Maria realized she was still alive, but bleeding from the scalp. She ran to a neighbor’s house to get help and was later taken to a hospital, where she underwent surgery to remove a bullet from her head. At the hospital, Detective Lopez showed Maria a photo lineup of six men. Maria identified a photo of Robert Hernandez as “Bobby.”

¶ 9 Peoria Police detectives found the bodies of Jeni, Omar, and Pablo at the house. Omar’s body had six stab wounds. According to the medical examiner, these wounds were likely inflicted while Omar was still alive. Police also found one copper-jacketed bullet and two lead-jacketed bullets in the room, suggesting two different weapons were used to kill Omar and Pablo.

¶ 10 Police later determined that Jeni and Martha Gonzalez co-leased the house where the murders occurred. Martha was initially cooperative with the detectives and identified the “Bobby” described by Maria as Robert Hernandez. She told Detective Lopez that Hernandez had a gun, knew where Jeni and Omar lived, and was upset because Sonia went to New Mexico with Jeni and had missed Angel’s birthday party. She also told Detective Lopez that Hernandez had called her at approximately 5:30 p.m. on the day of the murders to say “Omar and Jeni would not be bothering Sonia anymore.”

https://caselaw.findlaw.com/az-supreme-court/1640382.html

Charles Hedlund Arizona Death Row

Charles Hedlund was sentenced to death by the State of Arizona for a double murder. According to court documents James McKinney and Charles Hedlund would break into a home and in the commission of the robbery murder Christine Mertens. A few days later they would rob another home where they would murder James McClain. Charles Hedlund and James McKinney would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to death.

Arizona Death Row Inmate List

Charles Hedlund 2021 Information

ASPC Florence, Central Unit
PO Box 8200
CHARLES M. HEDLUND 056613
Florence, AZ 85132
United States

James McKinney 2021 Information

ASPC Eyman, Browning Unit
JAMES E. MCKINNEY 055778
PO Box 3400
Florence, AZ 85132
United States

Charles Hedlund More News

On March 10, 1991, Charles Hedlund and his half-brother, James Erin McKinney, brutally beat and shot 40-year-old Christine Mertens in her home, during the commission of a burglary. Mrs. Mertens’ son found his mother dead, lying face down on the living room floor. Hedlund and McKinney had ransacked Mrs. Mertens’ bedroom and rifled through her purse. On March 23, 1991, Hedlund and McKinney burglarized the home of 65-year-old James McClain and shot him in the head while he was asleep in his bed. Hedlund and McKinney ransacked Mr. McClain’s home and stole personal property, including several guns. Hedlund was convicted of first-degree murder for killing Mr. McClain and was sentenced to death. He was convicted of second-degree murder for killing Mrs. Martens, two counts of burglary in the first degree, and one count of theft.

Charles Hedlund Other News

Beginning February 28, 1991, James Erin McKinney and Charles Hedlund (Defendants) commenced a residential burglary spree for the purpose of obtaining cash or property. In the course of their extensive planning for these crimes, McKinney boasted that he would kill anyone who happened to be home during a burglary and Hedlund stated that anyone he found would be beaten in the head.

Defendants enlisted two friends to provide information on good burglary targets and to help with the burglaries. These two friends, Joe Lemon and Chris Morris, were not physically involved in the burglaries in which the murders occurred. It was from Lemon and Morris, however, that Defendants learned that Christene Mertens would make a good burglary target.

The first burglary in the spree occurred on February 28, 1991. Mertens’ home was the intended target that night, but she came home and scared the would-be burglars away. A different residence was chosen to burglarize, but Defendants obtained nothing of value. Both Defendants, as well as Lemon and Morris, were involved in this crime.

The second and third burglaries occurred the next night, March 1. This time Lemon was not involved. The three participants stole a .22 revolver, $12, some wheat pennies, a tool belt, and a Rolex watch.

A. The first murder

The fourth burglary took place on March 9, 1991. This time only McKinney and Hedlund were involved. Mertens was picked again because Defendants had been told by Lemon and Morris, who knew Mertens’ son, that Mertens kept several thousand dollars in an orange juice container in her refrigerator.

Mertens was home alone when Defendants entered the residence and attacked her. Beaten and savagely stabbed, Mertens struggled to save her own life. Ultimately, McKinney held her face down on the floor and shot her in the back of the head, covering his pistol with a pillow to muffle the shot. Defendants then ransacked the house and ultimately stole $120 in cash.

B. The second murder

Defendants committed the fifth burglary on March 22, 1991. The target was Jim McClain, a sixty-five-year-old retiree who restored cars for a hobby. McClain was targeted because Hedlund had bought a car from him some months earlier and thought McClain had money at his house. Entry was gained through an open window late at night while McClain was sleeping. Hedlund brought along his .22 rifle, which he had sawed-off to facilitate concealment. Defendants ransacked the front part of the house then moved to the bedroom. While he was sleeping, McClain was shot in the back of the head with Hedlund’s rifle. Defendants then ransacked the bedroom, taking a pocket watch and three hand guns; they also stole McClain’s car.

State v. McKinney, 917 P.2d 1214, 1218–19 (Ariz. 1996) (en banc), superseded by statute on other grounds as stated in State v. Martinez, 999 P.2d 795, 806 (Ariz. 2000) (en banc).

Hedlund and McKinney were each indicted on two counts of first degree murder and four other counts relating to the robberies. Both Defendants were tried in the same courtroom before dual juries. Before returning its verdict, Hedlund’s jury asked whether he could “be convicted as an accomplice to the burglary and not be convicted in the murder charge.” On November 12, 1992, the jury found Hedlund guilty of the second-degree murder of Mertens, the first-degree murder of McClain, and lesser charges. In a special verdict, the jury unanimously found that Hedlund was guilty of the premeditated murder of McClain, rejecting a felony murder theory. The trial court sentenced Hedlund to death for the first degree murder of McClain and to terms of imprisonment on the lesser charges.

Upon direct appeal, the Arizona Supreme Court affirmed the conviction and sentence. McKinney, 917 P.2d at 1214. In its opinion, the Arizona Supreme Court considered five claims relevant to this appeal: (1) whether the use of dual juries deprived Hedlund of his right to a fair trial, (2) whether ordering Hedlund to wear a visible leg restraint during trial deprived Hedlund of his right to a fair trial, (3) whether Hedlund was denied his right to a fair and impartial jury when the trial court refused to dismiss a juror distantly related to one of the victims, (4) claims surrounding the negotiation of a second plea deal, and (5) the consideration and weighing of aggravating and mitigating factors.

The Arizona Supreme Court denied relief on all claims and noted “ample evidence” that Hedlund killed McClain, including: Hedlund’s finger and palm prints were on McClain’s briefcase, which had been rifled during the burglary; Hedlund’s fingerprints were on the magazine of his sawed-off rifle; the bullet that killed McClain was consistent with having come from Hedlund’s rifle; Hedlund had modified his rifle by sawing it off in order to conceal it; Hedlund hid the rifle after the murder; Hedlund asked Morris to get rid of the rifle before police found it; and Hedlund expressed remorse after he was arrested.

https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-9th-circuit/1856470.html

Rodney Hardy Arizona Death Row

Rodney Hardy was sentenced to death by the State of Arizona for a double murder. According to court documents Rodney Hardy and his common law wife Tiffany Lien were at a party when they were involved in a physical argument and Tiffany Lien decided to leave with a friend and Don Stanciel. Two days later Rodney Hardy would go over to where Tiffany and waited for her friend to come out. When the friend did she was forced at gunpoint to enter the apartment where Rodney Hardy would find Tiffany Lien and Don Stanciel in bed, sleeping, and proceeded to shoot both of them causing their deaths. Rodney Hardy would turn himself into police two days later, was convicted and sentenced to death.

Arizona Death Row Inmate List

Rodney Hardy 2021 Information

ASPC Florence, Central Unit
PO Box 8200
RODNEY E. HARDY 045659
Florence, AZ 85132
United States

Rodney Hardy More News

Rodney Hardy was sentenced to death for the 2005 murder of Tiffany Lien and Don Stanciel. Hardy and Lien lived together for more than 2 years during their relationship. Rodney was the owner of a limousine service and a regular at the strip club where Lien worked. According to police records, Hardy physically abused Lien on August 26, 2005. Lien decided to leave and party with a stripper girlfriend and Stanciel. Hardy called Lien several times asking her to come back home, and on one of those calls Stanciel took the phone from Lien and told Hardy she was with him now. In the early hours of August 28, Hardy drove to the apartment complex where Lien’s friend lived and when the friend came out to buy something at the vending machine, Hardy grabbed her and forced her to take him to her apartment. Hardy kicked in the bedroom door and found Lien and Stanciel sleeping and shot them both to death. Two days later, Hardy turned himself in to Tempe Police

Rodney Hardy Other News

On Thursday, August 25, 2005, Hardy’s wife Tiffany Lien called her friend Meleigha and said she needed a place to stay.² Meleigha told Tiffany that she could move in with her, but Tiffany did not stay with her that night.

¶ 3 The next day, Hardy slapped Tiffany, and she left their apartment. That afternoon, Hardy asked his son to keep Hardy’s gun because “he didn’t need any drama,” but Hardy retrieved the gun that night. Hardy also went to a club that evening and told the bartender, “my baby is gone,” and he “could kill them both.” That same night, Tiffany went out with Meleigha, Julius, and Don. Tiffany and Don were romantically involved.

¶ 4 Hardy left a message on Meleigha’s cell phone shortly after midnight on Saturday, August 27, saying that he knew where Tiffany was, whom she was with, and what vehicle they were driving. When Hardy called again, Meleigha handed the phone to Tiffany, and Hardy and Tiffany argued. During that call or a subsequent one, Tiffany handed the phone to Don, who also argued with Hardy.

¶ 5 Later that weekend, Hardy visited his friend Krystal. He was intoxicated and upset, saying “she’s gone and I don’t know what to do,” and “it’s too late for her to come back.”

¶ 6 On Sunday, August 28, shortly after midnight, Meleigha, Julius, Tiffany, and Don went to Meleigha’s apartment. Eventually, Meleigha and Julius went to Meleigha’s bedroom, and Tiffany and Don went to a second bedroom further down the hall.

¶ 7 At approximately 4 a.m., Meleigha went outside and downstairs to a vending machine. While she was there, Hardy came up behind her and then pushed her up the stairs and into her apartment. He followed and headed down the hallway. When Hardy paused at the first bedroom door, Meleigha shouted, “That’s my boyfriend.” Hardy continued to the second bedroom, opened the door, cocked a gun, and started shooting. Julius and Meleigha ran out of the apartment, hearing several shots as they fled.

¶ 8 When police arrived at Meleigha’s apartment, Tiffany and Don were unresponsive. Tiffany had been shot twice, once in the head and once in the neck. Don had been shot several times—in his left hand, both shoulders, chest, and forehead. Both died at the scene.

¶ 9 On Monday, August 29, Hardy turned himself in to police. He was indicted on two counts of first degree murder, first degree burglary, attempted kidnapping of Tiffany, and kidnapping of Meleigha. The State later dropped the attempted kidnapping charge. Hardy testified at trial and admitted that he shot Tiffany and Don, but claimed that he committed manslaughter in the heat of passion, not first degree murder.

¶ 10 The jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts and found two aggravating circumstances under A.R.S. § 13–751:(F)(2) (prior serious offense), and (F)(8) (multiple homicides). After finding Hardy’s mitigation not sufficiently substantial to call for leniency, the jury determined that death was the appropriate sentence for each of the murders. The trial court also sentenced Hardy to two consecutive sentences of life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after twenty-five years for the kidnapping and burglary convictions.

https://caselaw.findlaw.com/az-supreme-court/1609435.html