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Michael Carlson Arizona Death Row

Michael Carlson was sentenced to death by the State of Arizona for the murders of a couple. According to court documents Michael Carlson would shoot and kill the couple, Rebecca Lou Lofton, 52, and Kenneth “KR” Alliman, 49, for disrespecting a friend of his. Following the murders Michael Carlson would burn the bodies. Michael Carlson was arrested, convicted and sentenced to death.

Arizona Death Row Inmate List

Michael Carlson 2021 Information

ASPC Florence, Central Unit
PO Box 8200
MICHAEL J. CARLSON 176552
Florence, AZ 85132
United States

Michael Carlson More News

Texas man convicted of killing a Marana couple three years ago was sentenced to death Wednesday afternoon.

The sentence was imposed by the same Pima County jury that on Aug. 31 convicted Michael Carlson, 56, of first-degree murder in the 2009 deaths of Rebecca Lou Lofton, 52, and Kenneth “KR” Alliman, 49.

During closing arguments Monday, Deputy Pima County Attorney Nicol Green told jurors Carlson deserved the death penalty because he killed multiple people, has a past violent criminal history and was on parole at the time.

Green urged the jurors to take Carlson’s character into consideration when determining his fate. He threw the victims into the trash pits as though they were trash and reduced their remains to thousands of bone fragments, she said.

During his trial, prosecutors presented evidence Carlson shot the couple to death and burned their bodies in trash pits located on property owned by the Menden family in Marana.

Jurors were shown a television interview in which Carlson confessed to killing the couple because he believed they were disrespecting the Mendens. He also confessed in gruesome detail to killing eight other people, murders authorities determined never happened.

What kind of a person fancies himself a killer and matter-of-factly provides in-depth details of imagined slayings? Green asked the jurors.

The defense has tried to portray Carlson as a victim of a dysfunctional family and brutal Texas prison system, but Green suggested that he wasn’t a victim, but a manipulator.

Incidents of self-mutilation in the military and prison could have been attempts to get attention and not evidence of mental illness, Green said.

The few assaults Carlson was a victim of were relatively minor, and he didn’t report an alleged rape until after he was facing the possibility of going back to prison for violating his parole, Green said.

Carlson’s three brothers grew up in the same family and have led law-abiding, normal lives, Green said.

Defense attorney Harley Kurlander blasted Green’s closing argument, saying she was improperly appealing to the jury’s emotions. He said he lost track of the number of times Green said “trash” and said there was no reason for Green to show the jurors photos of the victims’ remains.

The death penalty should be reserved for the worst of the worst, and Carlson doesn’t qualify, Kurlander said.

Carlson suffered an abusive childhood that left him with mental health issues and yet the state wants to kill him, Kurlander said.

The state may make light of it, but Carlson has lived in the depths of hell, Kurlander said.

Kurlander reminded jurors a prison expert and forensic psychologist testified Carlson isn’t likely to be dangerous in prison. In fact, Carlson might be able to help other inmates; he has a history of volunteer work, he said.

The defense attorney also said the jurors could consider Carlson’s protective nature, desire to be part of a family and his expressed remorse over Lofton’s death as mitigating circumstances.

One of the doctors who examined Carlson said people who are treated poorly as children can become irrationally attached to those they feel they can trust, Kurlander said, and Carlson became attached to the Mendens.

After the death sentence was announced, Pima County Superior Court Judge Richard Nichols met with the jurors and told them that at the same time Carlson confessed to killing the victims, he confessed to killing his sister, Maria Thoma, 51, in 2003. She was shot to death in Tucson.

The Pima County Attorney’s Office dismissed all of the charges in that case after Judge Christopher Browning threw out the taped interview because detectives violated his Miranda rights.

Jurors didn’t hear Carlson’s confession to detectives in the Alliman-Lofton case for the same reason.

https://tucson.com/news/local/crime/marana-couples-killer-gets-death-sentence/article_d9e63265-4743-557b-b790-f1aadc2462df.html

Jonathan Burns Arizona Death Row

Jonathan Burns was sentenced to death by the State of Arizona for the murder of a woman. According to court documents Jonathan Burns would kidnap Jackie Hartman who would be sexually assaulted and murdered. Jonathan Burns would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to death.

Arizona Death Row Inmate List

Jonathan Burns 2021 Information

ASPC Florence, Central Unit
PO Box 8200
JOHNATHAN I. BURNS 144740
Florence, AZ 85132
United States

Jonathan Burns More News

Johnathan Burns was sentenced to death for the brutal murder of Jackie Hartman. Sometime in late 2006, Jackie met Burns at a Diamond Shamrock gas station in the east valley. On January 28, 2007 Jackie agreed to go on a date with Burns and her sister dropped her off at the same gas station. When her sister returned later that evening to pick her up, Jackie never showed. Her disappearance led to a nearly three-week search involving law enforcement, members of her family, and local volunteers. Burns was arrested the day after, when police found Jackie’s blood-stained and torn clothing in a dumpster near his home in Mesa. Jackie’s body was found on February 19, 2007. She had been shot twice in the head; Burns’ semen was found on her body and clothing. An autopsy revealed traces of a date-rape drug in Jackie’s system. A jury convicted Burns of 1st degree murder, kidnapping, sexual assault, and misconduct involving weapons and subsequently sentenced him to death

Jonathan Burns More News

The man convicted in the 2007 murder of a Gilbert woman was sentenced to death in a Maricopa County Court this afternoon.

Jonathan Burns, 29, was found guilty of first-degree murder, kidnapping, sexual assault, and misconduct with a weapon for the January 28, 2007, murder of Jackie Hartman. Today he learned he’ll pay for the crimes with his life.

Last week, the jury in the case was having “issues” in agreeing on a sentence for Burns. No mistrial was declared, and the jurors were instructed to continue deliberations, which they did this morning, and ultimately sentenced Burns to death.

Hartman was last seen by her sister, Randi, about 2 a.m. the night she was murdered. Randi had dropped her off for what was supposed to be a first date with Burns. It turned out to be a date with death.

The sisters were supposed to meet up again at 4:45 a.m., but Jackie never showed.

Police spoke with Burns, who said he’d had sex with Hartman and then dropped her off at home. However, he couldn’t explain where he was for about five hours on the morning of the murder.

Authorities were able to locate an area where Burns had used his cell phone the morning of the murder — in the desert near Fountain Hills. Police searched the area and about a month after she was first reported missing, a search team found Hartman’s body buried in the desert.

Another seemingly damning bit of evidence in the case was that Hartman’s clothes were found torn and in a trash can near Burns’ home.

Burns is a convicted felon who has already served a 7-year prison sentence for burglary and arson, and hatched a plan to escape from jail while awaiting trial.

https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/jonathan-burns-sentenced-to-death-for-murder-of-jackie-hartman-6635084

Eric Boyston Arizona Death Row

Eric Boyston was sentenced to death by the State of Arizona for three murders. According to court documents Eric Boyston received a phone call that resulted in an argument. Boyston demanded his girlfriend to drive him over to the person’s home and when she refused Eric would attempt to shoot her. The woman attempted to run out of the car however Boyston would shoot her in the back leaving her paralyzed. Eric Boyston would drive to a family members home where he would shoot and kill his grandmother, Mary Boyston, his uncle, Alex Boyston, and family friend, Timothy Wright. Eric Boyston would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to death

Arizona Death Row Inmate List

Eric Boyston 2021 Information

ASPC Eyman, Browning Unit
PO Box 3400
ERIC D. BOYSTON 155186
Florence, AZ 85132
United States

Eric Boyston More News

Boyston was sentenced to death for the murders of his grandmother, Mary Boyston; his uncle, Alex Boyston; and family friend, Timothy Wright. He was also convicted of the attempted murders of his girlfriend, Alexandria Kelly, and his great-aunt, Shirley Jones. On February 2, 2004 Alexandria and Boyston were running errands when Boyston received a call in which an argument ensued. Boyston demanded that Alexandria drive him to the location where the person he just argued with was at. After Alexandria refused to do so, Boyston shot at her and missed. She got out of the car and ran and Boyston shot her 3 times, which ultimately led to her being paralyzed. Boyston then went to his grandmother Mary’s house and shot and killed her and his uncle Alex. The apartment across from Mary’s belonged to Boyston’s great-aunt, Shirley Jones. Shirley looked out her window and saw Boyston outside Mary’s apartment and she asked him what he was doing. Boyston attacked her, shooting her in the back. Boyston then returned back to his grandmother’s apartment, where he fatally stabbed family friend, Timothy Wright. Police arrested Boyston about 10 hours later at another apartment complex.

Eric Boyston Other News

Authorities say a man convicted of killing his grandmother, uncle and a family friend at a Phoenix apartment complex in 2004 has been sentenced to death.

Prosecutors say a Maricopa County Superior Court jury gave 29-year-old Eric Boyston the death penalty Tuesday. He was convicted last December of three counts of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder.

Authorities say Boyston got into an argument with his girlfriend on Feb. 2, 2004, and she was wounded in the shooting spree at his grandmother’s apartment complex.

Killed was Alexander Boyston, Mary Boyston and Timothy Wright while one of Eric Boyston’s aunts was shot and wounded.

https://www.foxnews.com/story/man-gets-death-penalty-for-killing-3-in-arizona

Steve Boggs Arizona Death Row

Steve Boggs was sentenced to death by the State of Arizona for three murders. According to court documents Steve Boggs and Christopher Hargrave would go into a Jack In The Box restaurant and force three employees, Beatriz Alvarado, 31, Fausto Jimenez, 31, and Kenneth Brown, 27, into a freezer, once inside the employees were fatally shot. At first police believed it was a robbery gone wrong however Steve Boggs would later make this statement “My motive was to rid the world of a few needless illegals,” Steve Boggs would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to death.

Arizona Death Row Inmate List

Steve Boggs 2021 Information

ASPC Florence, Central Unit
PO Box 8200
STEVE A. BOGGS 195143
Florence, AZ 85132
United States

Steve Boggs More News

Steven Boggs and Christopher Hargrave formed a white supremacist organization called the Imperial Royal Guard. Hargrave met and began dating Gayle Driver, the daughter of the owners of a pawnshop. In April, 2002, Hargrave began working at a Jack-In-The-Box in the Mesa/Chandler area.

On May 15, Hargrave was fired from the Jack-In-The-Box for stealing. Hargrave had been living in a trailer on the Driver’s property, and he was asked to leave when he was fired from his job.

On May 19, 2002, Boggs and Hargrave went to rob the Jack-In-The-Box restaurant. Hargrave dressed in his work uniform and gained entrance to the restaurant under the guise that he had been called back to work. Once inside, Hargrave distracted two employees while Boggs went through the back door. Boggs and Hargrave then took the three employees into the cooler and shot them several times in the back. After stealing money from the registers and from each victim, Boggs and Hargrave left the store and went to a nearby bank to withdraw money using one of the victim’s stolen credit cards.

One of the victims managed to crawl to a nearby phone and call police, as well as alert a customer, who also phoned the police. Two days after the murder, Boggs traded the murder weapon for another gun at the Driver’s pawn shop. The Drivers contacted the police, and Boggs was subsequently arrested when police confirmed the gun was the murder weapon from the restaurant.

Christopher Hargrave 2021 Information

ASPC Florence, Central Unit
PO Box 8200
CHRISTOPHER A. HARGRAVE 142231
Florence, AZ 85132
United States

Trent Benson Arizona Death Row

Trent Benson was sentenced to death by the State of Arizona for the sexual assaults and murders of two women. According to court documents Trent Benson would sexually assault and murder the first woman in November 2004 and would do the same to the next victim in August 2007. Authorities believe that Trent Benson is responsible for many more sexual assaults and possible murders. Trent Benson would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to death.

Arizona Death Row Inmate List

Trent Benson 2021 Information

ASPC Florence, Central Unit
PO Box 8200
TRENT C. BENSON 266710
Florence, AZ 85132
United States

Trent Benson More News

Arizona authorities today identified the serial predator suspect arrested Wednesday after DNA linked him to a series of violent sexual crimes against women, including a pair of unsolved murders.

Trent Christopher Benson, 38, is being held at the Maricopa County Jail. He faces nine criminal charges, including two counts of first-degree murder, two counts or violent sexual assault, three counts of kidnapping and one count of sexual assault, according to a release by the Mesa County Police Department.

Benson will be held without bond and could face additional charges, according to police.

The murder suspect was arrested Wednesday afternoon just two days after authorities announced that DNA had connected two unsolved rape and murders and two recent kidnapping and sexual assaults to a single suspect.

Benson was watched by surveillance for a day before authorities made the arrest.

Police obtained Benson’s DNA from an undisclosed source Tuesday, Mesa Police Department spokesman Steve Berry said at a Wednesday news conference. Investigators expedited the forensics analysis and confirmed that the suspect had the same DNA profile that tied together at least four brutal crimes that raised the specter of a possible serial killer on the loose in an area too familiar with serial crimes.

“We want to let the community know they can relax to a certain extent,” Mesa Police Chief George Gascon said at the news conference. “We feel very comfortable that we can tell the community that the person that is responsible for these cases is in our custody.”

Gascon declined to identify the suspect by name Wednesday, and the department refused to release a booking photograph because authorities want to allow victims to pick the suspect out of a police lineup. A reporter for the East Valley Tribune who watched Benson’s first appearance in court today described the suspect as wearing blue jeans, black loafers and a T-shirt as a Maricopa County judge read the charges against him.

Authorities Wednesday described the suspect, who is “talking with” detectives, as a Mesa resident with a criminal history involving the solicitation of prostitutes. The two murdered women whose bodies were linked to Benson through his DNA both were involved in the sex trade industry.

Before authorities identified the suspect, residents in one neighborhood, as well as customers at a local business, watched as Mesa police executed search warrants tied to the arrest.

Some of them, such as Anne Hickman, knew the male resident who lived in the apartment searched by authorities. “I wouldn’t expect a man like him to act out,” Hickman told ABC News’ Phoenix affiliate.

Mesa police announced May 5 that DNA recovered from an Aug. 16, 2007, sex attack in broad daylight on a Hispanic victim matched forensic evidence collected at the murder scenes of Alisa Marie Beck and Karen Jane Campbell, who were killed in November 2004 and October 2007, respectively.

That connection followed a December 2007 confirmation by police that the same suspect’s DNA had been found at each of the Beck and Campbell crime scenes. Prior to the DNA link, authorities had reason to believe the murders were connected and a serial predator might be at work.

Beck, 25, was found partially clothed in an alleyway Nov 1, 2004. She had been strangled. Campbell, 44, was found naked on a roadway Oct. 24, 2007. Authorities have not revealed exactly how Campbell was murdered — instead simply saying her death was the result of a violent homicide. Both women were transients with histories of drug abuse and prostitution.

A clearer profile of the suspect began to emerge after the August kidnapping and rape, in which the Benson allegedly pulled alongside a 47-year-old Hispanic woman near a busy intersection and jumped out of a white, four-door sedan, according to the Mesa police. The woman struggled with the suspect, but was ultimately pulled into the car and brought to an unknown place where she was sexually assaulted.

The woman, left naked after the assault, was able to flee on foot. She hailed a cab as she dressed herself and was driven to her home, where she called police. DNA was recovered in the sexual assault examination that linked her attacker to the previous homicides.

Before identifying Benson, police recently released some details about the suspect provided by the victim. He was between 25 and 35 years old, about 5 feet 8 inches tall and had short dark hair.

A fourth crime, this one in nearby Phoenix, has also been linked to Benson through DNA. On Nov. 4, a 35-year-old Phoenix woman was abducted, taken to an unknown location, raped and beaten. The woman was ultimately found by a passerby.

Benson’s arrest is not the first involving a serial predator terrorizing the Maricopa County area in the past few years.

In September 2007, a jury convicted Mark Goudeau, 43, on 19 charges tied to an attack on two sisters in a Phoenix park. He was sentenced to 438 years in prison for those charges but still faces nine additional murder counts for a string of shootings that began in 2005 that earned him the nickname the “Baseline Killer.” Prosecutors in Arizona expect to seek the death penalty against Goudeau on the murder charges.

Dale Hausner, 35, faces eight murder counts after his roommate, Samuel Dieteman, entered a guilty plea and agreed to testify against Hausner in his murder trial to potentially avoid a death sentence of his own. The two are accused of randomly shooting at people and animals in serial shootings from 2005 to 2006 that killed eight and wounded 17 more. The pair is also accused of killing several animals.

When authorities arrested the roommates, they found newspaper clippings about the police investigation as well as a map that detailed the locations of some attacks.

Mesa police said Wednesday that they believe Benson may have been involved in other attacks and may not have always acted alone.

A third, unsolved recent murder with similarities to the Beck and Campbell cases has not been connected to the suspect by DNA. Elisa Lea Dewakuku was found dead in an irrigation canal Nov. 1. Dewakuku had been strangled and had drugs in her system, according to police

https://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=4863147&page=1