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
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.
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
ASPC Florence, Central Unit PO Box 8200 ROBERT HERNANDEZ 108033 Florence, AZ 85132 United States
Robert Hernandez More News
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
Tracy Hampton was sentenced to death by the State of Arizona for a double murder. According to court documents Tracy Hampton was upset with one of the victims, Charles Findley for identifying him to a Public Safety Officer. Tracy Hampton would fatally shoot Charles Findley and then his girlfriend Tanya Ramsdell. Charles Findley was arrested, convicted and sentenced to death.
ASPC Eyman, Browning Unit PO Box 3400 TRACY A. HAMPTON 085819 Florence, AZ 85132 United States
Tracy Hampton More News
On January 24, 2003 Tracy Hampton was sentenced to the following: MARICOPA COUNTY CR2001-008991, Count 1, Murder First Degree of Charles Findley committed on May 18, 2001, sentenced to Death. Count 2 Murder First Degree of Tanya Ramsdell, committed on May 18, 2001, sentenced to Death. According to the Phoenix Police Department on May 18, 2001 the defendant shot and killed Charles Findley and Tanya Ramsdell at 802 East Roberts Road in Phoenix. It was also noted that Tanya Ramsdell was five months pregnant at the time of the shooting. No other case information is available. Inmate Hampton is also charged with the following: Maricopa County CR2001-008991 Count 3, Manslaughter, committed on May 17, 2001. Sentencing set for January 27, 2003. Inmate Hampton is to submit to DNA testing and it is recommended that Counts 1, II, and III run concurrently.
Tracy Hampton Other News
On May 16, 2001, Department of Public Safety officers attempted to serve a traffic ticket on Tracy Hampton.1 The officers went to a house on East Roberts Road in Phoenix, where Hampton had been staying with Charles Findley and Findley’s girlfriend, Tanya Ramsdell, who was five months pregnant. Hampton was not there, but Findley and Ramsdell were. To prove that he was not the man the officers were looking for, Findley showed them a photograph of Hampton, and the officers left.
¶ 2 Early the next day, Misty Ross and Shaun Geeslin went to the house on East Roberts Road. Hampton let them in; he told them of the police visit and his intention to confront Findley about the incident. When Findley awoke, Hampton argued with him.
¶ 3 Later during the morning of May 17, Tracy Hampton, Findley, Ross, Geeslin and several others smoked methamphetamine. Sometime after 10:30 a.m., Hampton and Geeslin left. The two returned near noon and entered a back room where Findley was kneeling on the floor working on a lighter. Hampton turned on a CD player to a loud volume, walked in front of Findley, and called out his name. As Findley looked up, Hampton shot him in the forehead, killing him. Geeslin and Ross then walked to the front door.
¶ 4 Tracy Hampton began following Ross and Geeslin, but stopped and said something like, “Wait, we have one more.” He then went to a bedroom where Ramsdell was sleeping and opened the door. Ramsdell told Hampton to get out, and Hampton shot her in the head. Ramsdell and her unborn child died as a result.
¶ 5 Hampton then joined Ross and Geeslin in Geeslin’s truck. After asking whether he had any blood on his face, Hampton asked to be taken to get some food. A few hours later, Hampton asked Ross whether she wanted to play a game of darts and commented, “What, I killed two people, and we can’t kick it?”
¶ 6 Hampton was arrested on May 31, 2001. While awaiting trial in the Maricopa County jail in August 2001, Hampton shared a cell with George Ridley. Ridley testified at trial that Hampton admitted to committing the murders and told him the story of the murders every night for two weeks. Hampton told Ridley that he killed Findley because “he was a rat” and he killed Ramsdell because Hampton was affiliated with the Aryan Brotherhood and thought that Ramsdell was a “n@gger lover” who was pregnant with a Black man’s child. Hampton also told Ridley that he “thought it was funny” that Ramsdell had slept through the shooting of her boyfriend, and “bragged about the fact he was able to shoot [Ramsdell] in pretty much the same place he shot her old man.” Ridley also said that before leaving the house, Hampton knelt down next to Findley’s body and whispered in his ear, “I want to let you know I took care of your n@gger loving old lady and her little c@on baby, too. Don’t worry, they didn’t feel a thing.”
¶ 7 The State originally charged Hampton by complaint with two counts of first degree murder for the deaths of Findley and Ramsdell, and one count of manslaughter for the death of Ramsdell’s unborn child. The State later filed an information and a Notice of Intention to Seek the Death Penalty, stating that it intended to prove “one or more of the enumerated factors” in Arizona Revised Statutes (“A.R.S.”) § 13-703(F) (2001).
¶ 8 On May 2, 2002, a jury found Hampton guilty on all counts. The State filed a Notice of Aggravating Factors on May 7, 2002, alleging two aggravating circumstances: (1) A.R.S. § 13-703(F)(8) (multiple homicides); and (2) A.R.S. § 13-703(F)(6) (especially heinous or depraved; “whereby defendant knew victim Tanya Ramsdell was pregnant, and/or murdered her because he believed the baby’s father was Black, creating and resulting in a racist murder, thereby murdering Tanya Ramsdell in order to murder her unborn baby”).
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