Dauntorian Sanders Arizona Death Row

Dauntorian Sanders

Dauntorian Sanders was sentenced to death by the State of Arizona for the beating death of a toddler. According to court documents the toddler had been beaten for sometime before the fatal beating by Dauntorian Sanders. Dauntorian Sanders would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to death.

Arizona Death Row Inmate List

Dauntorian Sanders 2021 Information

ASPC Florence, Central Unit
PO Box 8200
DAUNTORIAN L. SANDERS 294301
Florence, AZ 85132
United States

Dauntorian Sanders More News

The lawyer of a man convicted of murdering a toddler in 2009 and sentenced to death said his client would continue to seek a retrial.

Dauntorian Sanders admitted to investigators he violently beat Schala Vera. He said he called police when he found her not breathing.

12 News spoke with the toddler’s step-grandmother, Ethel Wagner, after the Arizona Supreme court affirmed Sanders’s convictions and sentencing on Sept. 13

“It breaks my heart everyday thinking that we let her go back with them and then this happened,” Wagner said.

The step-grandma was filled with regret as she spoke with 12 News Friday. Her little Schala, who she raised on the East Coast during her first two years of life, was dead.

“She was a happy little girl, always smiling and bringing a smile to everybody she met,” Wagner said.

Police records revealed continuous beatings at the hands of Schala’s own mother and her boyfriend, Dauntorian Sanders.

“The guardianship papers we had were up, she came and said she had got her life back together and she was ready to be a mom,” Wagner said.

Documents from the Chandler Police Department revealed the mom, Susan Witbracht, who also went by Jessica Yates, was not willing to protect her child.

Sanders admitted to police he got out of control on August 31, 2009. Bruises on the toddler’s arms, legs, torso and head and belt buckle patterns throughout little Schala’s body showed the nightmare she suffered.

On the day of the fatal beating at the end of August, the three-year-old crawled into a bathroom in her home to hide from her attacker. That’s where investigators said Schala took her last breath.

“I hope and pray someday justice will get served for her because she didn’t deserve it,” Wagner said.

Sanders, who was convicted of murder and child abuse in Sept. 2014, was sentenced to death.

Sanders tried to appeal, but the Arizona Supreme Court affirmed Sanders’s convictions and sentencing on Sept. 13, 2018.

“It hurts because it keeps bringing it up and I really can’t get closure and I hope and pray he doesn’t get it,” Wagner said.

Schala’s mom was sentenced to 35 years to life in prison.

Witbracht told investigators not only did she watch as her boyfriend battered her daughter with belts for months, but she also took part in it.

Detectives said even after hearing the violent strikes led to her daughter’s death, mom said she, “adored the boyfriend.”

Wagner wished her stepdaughter would’ve given little Schala an escape, when she had the chance.

“We even bought her plane tickets and everything to bring her and Schala out here away from him and she never took the opportunity to get out, but she had the chance,” Wagner said.

Sanders’s lawyer said he planned to keep working to get his client a retrial.

After working on Schala’s death investigation, the lead detective, Gary Fuller, began the Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Coalition to educate communities across the state on how to report child abuse.

https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/valley/chandler-toddlers-murderer-plans-to-seek-retrial/75-594586865

Sean Runningeagle Arizona Death Row

sean runningeagle

Sean Runningeagle was sentenced to death by the State of Arizona for the murder of a couple during a robbery. According to court documents Sean Runningeagle would stab to death a couple after making his way into their home. Sean Runningeagle would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to death

Arizona Death Row Inmate List

Sean Runningeagle 2021 Information

ASPC Florence, Central Unit
PO Box 8200
SEAN B. RUNNINGEAGLE 071847
Florence, AZ 85132
United States

Sean Runningeagle More News

At about 6:00 a.m. on December 6, 1987, Running Eagle, Corey Tilden, and Orva Antone were burglarizing the Robert Davis residence in Phoenix. Davis’ neighbor, 72-year-old Herbert Williams, came outside and told the men to leave or he would call the police. Running Eagle began to tease and threaten Mr. Williams with a large hunting knife. Mr. Williams’ wife, Jacqueline, then came outside and began yelling. Tilden hit Mrs. Williams over the head with a large flashlight. Running Eagle and Tilden then forced their way into the Williams’ home, and beat and stabbed them both to death. Mr. Williams was stabbed five times in the chest, arm, pelvis and back. Mrs. Williams was stabbed four times in the chest and abdomen and her throat was cut. Running Eagle and Tilden were tried jointly. Antone pled guilty to second-degree burglary and testified against Running Eagle and Tilden. Running Eagle and Tilden were both convicted of two counts of first-degree murder; Tilden received two life sentences.

Sean Runningeagle Other News

In the early morning of December 6, 1987, Runningeagle, Tilden, and their two friends Orva and Milford Antone, were driving around Phoenix. Runningeagle wanted parts for his car, so the foursome stopped at the Davis house, which had a car parked outside. Runningeagle, Tilden and Orva got out of the car, while Milford remained passed out drunk in the back seat. Runningeagle used his large hunting knife to remove two carburetors from the Davis car. Orva put them and an air scoop in the trunk of Runningeagle’s car. Tilden *62 and Runningeagle also stole a floor jack and tool box. Orva took a bicycle from the open garage.

Herbert and Jacqueline Williams, an elderly couple, lived next door to the Davises. Mr. Williams came out of his house and told the young men to leave or he would call the police. Orva returned to the car, but Runningeagle and Tilden approached Mr. Williams. Runningeagle concealed his knife by his side. Tilden carried a large, black flashlight. Runningeagle then began to tease and scare Mr. Williams with the knife. Mr. Williams retreated and told Runningeagle to put the knife away. Mrs. Williams then came out of the house and yelled at them. Tilden confronted Mrs. Williams, argued with her, and then hit her on the side of the head with the flashlight. Mr. Williams told them to leave his wife alone, and helped her back into the house. Runningeagle broke through the Williams’ door with a tire iron, and he and Tilden barged in.

The noise awakened a neighbor, who heard Mrs. Williams crying and the words “bring him in” spoken by a tall, young man he saw standing in the Williams carport. The neighbor called “911,” but by the time the police arrived, Mr. and Mrs. Williams were dead. Mr. Williams suffered several head injuries and five stab wounds, three of which were fatal. Mrs. Williams also suffered several head injuries, one of which fractured her skull and was possibly fatal, in addition to four stab wounds, three of which were fatal.

The police searched the Williams home. The drawer in which Mrs. Williams stored her jewelry was open and some jewelry was missing. They found an empty purse, blood drops and two bloody shoe print patterns. They discovered Runningeagle’s palm print on the clothes dryer next to the bodies.

Runningeagle discussed the crimes on several occasions before his arrest. He told his girlfriend that he had been in a fight with two people and had hit them “full-force.” He showed her his car trunk full of the stolen property. He showed the hood scoop and carburetors to another friend. Tilden, too, spoke about the crimes and informed Runningeagle that an account of the burglary was on the radio and that “they got there an hour after we left.”

When the defendants were arrested, the police found, among other things, the Davis air scoop with Runningeagle’s prints on it, two carburetors, the tool box, Mrs. Williams’ wallet and college pin, a large black flashlight with Tilden’s prints on it, and the Davis bicycle with Runningeagle’s prints on the wheel rim. A Phoenix Police Department criminalist matched Runningeagle’s shoes with the bloody shoe prints found at the Williams house, and also found that an inked print of Tilden’s shoes made a pattern similar to other shoe prints at the house.

Runningeagle, Tilden, and Orva Antone were indicted on two counts of first degree murder, and one count each of first degree burglary of a residence, second degree burglary of a residence, third degree burglary of a car, theft of property valued between $500 and $1000, and theft of property valued between $250 and $500. Orva Antone pleaded guilty to burglary and testified for the state at the joint trial.

https://caselaw.findlaw.com/az-supreme-court/1260307.html

Homer Roseberry Arizona Death Row

homer roseberry

Homer Roseberry was sentenced to death by the State of Arizona for the murder of a man. According to court documents Homer Roseberry and his accomplices were involved in robbing drug dealers for their stash and money then reselling the drugs. Homer Roseberry and the victim were delivering 1300 pounds of marijuana when they pulled off to a remote location where Homer Roseberry would shoot the victim in the back of the head. Homer Roseberry would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to death.

Arizona Death Row Inmate List

Homer Roseberry 2021 Information

ASPC Florence, Central Unit
PO Box 8200
HOMER R. ROSEBERRY 178096
Florence, AZ 85132
United States

Homer Roseberry More News

In October, 2000, Homer Roseberry, Diane Roseberry, and Charles Dvoracek were involved in a scheme to steal drugs and money, and to re-sell the drugs. Homer Roseberry was trafficking approximately thirteen hundred pounds of marijuana with the victim, Fred Fottler. The two met in Phoenix, and drove to Las Vegas with the marijuana. At a pull-off area along Highway 93, Roseberry shot Fottler three times in the back of the head. Roseberry then dumped Fottler’s body in the weeds along the highway and continued on to Las Vegas with the drugs. Roseberry threw the gun out several miles away from Fottler’s body. Diane Roseberry received a 7 year prison sentence, and Charles Dvoracek received a 10 year prison sentence.

Homer Roseberry Other News

In 1997, on a trip to California in their motorhome, Roseberry and his wife, Diane, met members of a marijuana-smuggling ring known as the Pembertons.   In late 1998 and early 1999, Roseberry was paid by the Pembertons to transport three loads of marijuana in his motorhome from Arizona to Michigan.

¶ 4 In early October of 2000, Roseberry agreed to transport more than one thousand pounds of marijuana.   When Roseberry arrived in Phoenix to pick up the load, the Pembertons informed him that Fred Fottler would accompany him to protect the goods.   Several large duffle bags of marijuana were then loaded into the motorhome.

¶ 5 On October 20, 2000, Roseberry set off from Phoenix.   At that point, pursuant to a scheme devised by Roseberry and his friend, Charles Dvoracek, Dvoracek traveled to Wickenberg, Arizona, where he was supposed to intercept and steal the motorhome and marijuana while Roseberry and Fottler ate at a Denny’s restaurant.   So in the early morning hours of October 21, 2000, Dvoracek parked his truck on the side of the road and waited for the motorhome to stop at Denny’s.   But the motorhome did not stay at the restaurant;  instead, after pulling off the road, Roseberry drove the motorhome back onto the highway and continued north toward his home in Nevada.

¶ 6 Dvoracek followed the motorhome, which Roseberry soon pulled over onto the shoulder of the road.   As Dvoracek pulled in behind it, he heard two pops.   Roseberry stepped out of the motorhome and told Dvoracek that he had “shot the guy” the Pembertons had sent to accompany him on the drug run.   Roseberry explained that he pulled the motorhome over because Fottler had fallen asleep on the couch.   He seized the opportunity to shoot Fottler in the back of the head.

¶ 7 Because Fottler was still making gurgling noises, Roseberry returned to the motorhome and shot him a third time.   Roseberry and Dvoracek then wrapped Fottler’s body in a blanket and dumped it into the gully on the side of the road.

¶ 8 As Roseberry drove north through Arizona, he threw his gun out the window of the motorhome.   Roseberry and Dvoracek stopped in Kingman, Arizona, to remove other evidence of the crime.   They took a blood-stained sheet from the motorhome and threw it over a fence.   They also buried Fottler’s wallet and moved one of the duffle bags of marijuana from the motorhome to Dvoracek’s truck so Dvoracek could sell the drugs to raise money in case it became necessary to bail Roseberry out of jail.

¶ 9 When the men arrived at Roseberry’s home in Henderson, Nevada, on October 21, 2000, they put the motorhome and drugs into storage.

¶ 10 Later that day, Roseberry confided to his wife, Diane, that he killed Fottler so he could steal the marijuana and sell it himself.   Roseberry told her that his story was going to be that “some Mexicans” with guns were on board the motorhome with him and the victim, and they had killed Fottler while Roseberry was out of the vehicle.

¶ 11 Diane called her brother, Otis Sonny Bowman, and asked him to fly in from Indiana, which he did in the early morning hours of October 22, 2000.   Two drug dealers flew in with Bowman.   The drug dealers agreed to purchase about 300 pounds of marijuana, which Bowman later transported to Ohio in Roseberry’s motorhome.   Roseberry and Dvoracek split the money from the sale.

¶ 12 Dvoracek’s neighbor, Steven Berkowitz, also transported three loads of marijuana to Ohio for Roseberry and Dvoracek.   On his third trip, however, Berkowitz was stopped by the local highway patrol and arrested for drug possession.

https://caselaw.findlaw.com/az-supreme-court/1260307.html

Edward Rose Arizona Death Row

edward rose

Edward Rose was sentenced to death by the State of Arizona for the murder of a police officer. According to court documents Edward Rose and his girlfriend attempted to cash a forge check however the clerk saw something suspicous and called 911. When Officer George Cortez attempted to arrest Edward Rose he would be shot in the head and neck. Edward Rose was arrested, convicted and sentenced to death.

Arizona Death Row Inmate List

Edward Rose 2021 Information

ASPC Florence, Central Unit
PO Box 8200
EDWARD J. ROSE 257667
Florence, AZ 85132
United States

Edward Rose More News

On July 27, 2007, Rose and his girlfriend went a Phoenix check cashing store with the intent to cash a forged check which was stolen from a business checkbook. The store clerk became suspicious as Rose and his girlfriend seemed nervous and fidgety. The clerk called the bank, the check owner, and 911 for help. Officer George Cortez was dispatched to the store after the 911 call was made. Officer Cortez entered the store and grabbed Rose from behind by the wrist. Rose turned around, pulled his gun out, and fatally shot Officer Cortez in the head and shoulder. On the day Rose’s trial was set to begin, he pled guilty to all counts. After the aggravation and penalty phase proceedings, the jury sentenced him to death. Rose’s girlfriend pled guilty to second degree murder and was sentenced to 22 years in prison.

Edward Rose Other News

A man and a woman were arrested early Saturday in the overnight shooting death of a Phoenix police officer at a check-cashing store.

Edward James Rose, 20, and Norma Lisa Lopez, 19, were found after an allnight search ended at 5:30 a.m. near the 6700 block of West Pioneer Street. Police said both face first – degree murder charges in the shooting death of officer George Cortez.

Cortez, 23, was responding to a 911 call at Southwest Check Cashing near 83rd Avenue and Encanto Boulevard. Police said he was shot by Rose while trying to arrest him and Lopez on suspicion of writing bad checks.

Investigators said Cortez arrived just after 9 p.m. and approached Rose and Lopez to arrest them. But as he slapped one of Rose’s wrists into handcuffs, the man pulled a gun and shot Cortez twice.

The gunman and the woman then fled the scene.

An officer who was called for backup arrived moments later to find Cortez on the ground, police said. Cortez was transferred to St. Joseph’s Hospital, where he died a short time later.

Cortez is the first Phoenix police officer killed in the line of duty since November 2005.

Rose and Lopez were booked on suspicion of firstdegree murder and charged with third-degree burglary and forgery.

Cortez had only been a police officer for two years. But Cmdr. Joe Yahner, who worked with Cortez, said he was already known for doing great police work.

“He loved the job,” Yahner said. “He loved being a Phoenix police officer. And he loved going out and taking care of business on the street and serving the community.”

Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon offered his condolences to those who knew the slain officer.

“We lost a hero,” he said. “He died for what he loved — protecting our city.”

Flags flew at half-staff at Phoenix police precincts while family, friends and fellow officers mourned Cortez’s death.

Gordon said Cortez’s loss only worsened one of the most tragic days in Phoenix history. On Friday afternoon, a helicopter collision near downtown Phoenix killed four journalists.

“Late Friday evening, a bad day got worse,” Gordon said.

The investigation of Cortez’s death is ongoing. For that reason, police said they would not release information about how the suspects knew each other or if they had previous criminal records. However, Rose did have a criminal case before the Maricopa County Superior Court beginning last year.

Police declined to say where Cortez was hit. But investigators believe Rose was the one who pulled the trigger.

Lopez is also being charged with first-degree murder because of an Arizona law that says a person committing a felony can be held responsible for deaths that occur as a result of that crime.

Police said they will release more information about the suspects and shooting as the investigation continues.

Cortez was married and leaves behind two young children.

https://www.eastvalleytribune.com/news/police-arrest-2-in-death-of-officer/article_9c8ca9ef-f667-582b-a54b-a7bb651a49e4.html

Pete Rogovich Arizona Death Row

pete rogovich

Pete Rogovich was sentenced to death by the State of Arkansas for a series of murders. According to court documents Pete Rogovich would commit a series of murders starting with a robbery in which he shot and killed the clerk. Rogovich would break into two separate homes where he would murder a woman in each. Pete Rogovich would murder the last woman who was standing in her driveway. Pete Rogovich was arrested, convicted and sentenced to death.

Arizona Death Row Inmate List

Pete Rogovich 2021 Information

ASPC Florence, Central Unit
PO Box 8200
PETE C. ROGOVICH 114642
Florence, AZ 85132
United States

Pete Rogovich More News

On March 15, 1992, Rogovich robbed a Super Stop Food Mart and shot and killed the clerk. He later went to the Palo Verde Trailer Park where he encountered Phyllis Mancuso and shot and killed her. He entered the home of Marie Pendergast, where he shot and killed her. After leaving the Pendergast residence, he shot and killed Rebecca Carreon in the driveway of her home. He fled on foot to a local restaurant, where he took a vehicle from an employee at gunpoint. He then robbed a Circle K store. He was later apprehended after a pursuit by local law enforcement agencies.

Pete Rogovich Other News

On Sunday, March 15, 1992, at 8:30 a.m., a maintenance man saw Rogovich park his car in the lot of his central Phoenix apartment complex.   On the way to his apartment, Rogovich spoke to the maintenance man, telling him he was upset with his girlfriend and was going to get even with her.   Rogovich then went to his second-floor apartment.

At about 8:45 a.m., a customer entered a Super Stop Market located near Rogovich’s apartment and found the body of the clerk, Tekleberhan Manna, a 24-year-old Ethiopian immigrant.   Manna sustained a fatal gunshot wound to his right eye, fired from within two feet, causing instantaneous death.   No money or merchandise had been taken from the store.

Around 1:00 p.m. the same day, Rogovich left his apartment with a gun in his hand and began randomly firing.   At that time, Tony Madrid and Pamela Rodgers were leaving the apartment complex by car.   One of Rogovich’s shots hit a rear tire.   Madrid thought the car was backfiring, and when he and Rodgers momentarily got out of the car to inspect, Rogovich fired at them but missed.   Rogovich then ran to the south side of the complex and jumped the fence separating the apartment complex from the neighboring trailer park.

In the trailer park, Rogovich went on what can only be described as a homicidal rampage, leaving three victims in his wake.   In the laundry room, 62-year-old Phyllis Mancuso was shot once through her right cheek and neck and died within minutes.   In her driveway, 48-year-old Rebecca Carreon was shot once in the back and died from loss of blood within a few minutes.   Finally, in her trailer 83-year-old Marie Pendergast was shot twice in the abdomen and also died from blood loss.

Rogovich was last seen running into an open field adjacent to the trailer park.   Some time later, he appeared at a restaurant parking lot where disc jockey Kelly Urich was doing promotional work for Y-95, a Phoenix radio station.   Rogovich took the distinctive Y-95 van from Urich at gunpoint and drove off.

Rogovich was next seen at a convenience store in Goodyear.   Inside the store, he grabbed a couple of 12-packs of beer from the cooler and approached the counter.   At the counter, he put down his gun and demanded in a quiet voice, “Give me some money.”   The cashier handed him about $45.   Rogovich took the money, casually walked out to the Y-95 van, and drove off.

At about 5:00 p.m. Goodyear police, responding to a call concerning the convenience store robbery, spotted the Y-95 van and pursued.   Although Rogovich led them on a lengthy chase at speeds ranging from 50 to over 100 miles per hour, police were finally able to stop him at a roadblock.

In interviews with the police, Rogovich admitted to committing all of the various offenses, including the murder of Tekleberhan Manna.   He stated, “I did it.   I know it was wrong.   I know I’ll burn in hell.”   When asked if he was sorry, Rogovich replied, “Of course, I’m sorry.   It was wrong.   I know it, but I just snapped.   I was so angry.   I just couldn’t stop.   I was full of anger.”   Rogovich told a detective that the death of his stepfather in 1986 and the recent breakup with his girlfriend really bothered him.

https://caselaw.findlaw.com/az-supreme-court/1250801.html