Trent Benson – Asian, age 32-35
Sentenced in Maricopa County, Arizona
By: a jury
Date of crime: November 2004, October 2007
Victim: Alisa Marie Beck, 21, Karen Campbell, 44
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Benson picked up the victims, both prostitutes, and beat and strangled them to death. Benson assaulted two other women who survived. Benson claimed he flew into a rage after complaints from the women, and the defense presented evidence of mental illness and a traumatic childhood after being abandoned as an infant. The jury found that this did not outweigh the aggravating factors of multiple murders, other serious crimes (kidnapping and sexual assault), and the murders were of a particularly heinous, cruel, or depraved manner.
Sources: Arizona Republic (AZ) 9/13/11 B10 (2011 WLNR 18213296), Arizona Republic (AZ) 9/14/11 B2 (2011 WLNR 18209036), Arizona Republic (AZ) 10/8/11 B1 (2011 WLNR 20597876).
By: a jury
Date of crime: November 2004, October 2007
Victim: Alisa Marie Beck, 21, Karen Campbell, 44
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Benson picked up the victims, both prostitutes, and beat and strangled them to death. Benson assaulted two other women who survived. Benson claimed he flew into a rage after complaints from the women, and the defense presented evidence of mental illness and a traumatic childhood after being abandoned as an infant. The jury found that this did not outweigh the aggravating factors of multiple murders, other serious crimes (kidnapping and sexual assault), and the murders were of a particularly heinous, cruel, or depraved manner.
Sources: Arizona Republic (AZ) 9/13/11 B10 (2011 WLNR 18213296), Arizona Republic (AZ) 9/14/11 B2 (2011 WLNR 18209036), Arizona Republic (AZ) 10/8/11 B1 (2011 WLNR 20597876).
Johnathan Burns – White, age 25
Sentenced in Maricopa County, Arizona
By: a jury
Date of crime: January 28, 2007
Victim: Jacquelan Hartman, 19
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Burns picked up the victim for their first date at a gas station. The prosecution theorized that Burns sexually assaulted the victim, beat her to the point of fracturing her skull, then shot her twice in the head. Autopsy reports also showed traces of date rape drug in her system. Burns claimed that the sexual contact was consensual, that he dropped her off at home, and that he had no idea what happened to her. The prosecutors alleged as aggravators that the murder was especially cruel and Burns’ prior convictions for burglary and arson.
Sources: Arizona Republic (Phoenix, Ariz.) B2 12/17/10 (2010 WLNR 24942075), Arizona Republic (Phoenix, Ariz.) B1 3/1/11 (2011 WLNR 3978499)
By: a jury
Date of crime: January 28, 2007
Victim: Jacquelan Hartman, 19
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Burns picked up the victim for their first date at a gas station. The prosecution theorized that Burns sexually assaulted the victim, beat her to the point of fracturing her skull, then shot her twice in the head. Autopsy reports also showed traces of date rape drug in her system. Burns claimed that the sexual contact was consensual, that he dropped her off at home, and that he had no idea what happened to her. The prosecutors alleged as aggravators that the murder was especially cruel and Burns’ prior convictions for burglary and arson.
Sources: Arizona Republic (Phoenix, Ariz.) B2 12/17/10 (2010 WLNR 24942075), Arizona Republic (Phoenix, Ariz.) B1 3/1/11 (2011 WLNR 3978499)
Jason Bush – Latino, age 34 (see also Shawna Forde)
Sentenced in Pima County, Arizona
By: a judge upon jury recommendation
Date of crime: May 2009
Victim: Raul Junior Flores, 29, Brisenia Flores, 9
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Shawna Forde, Albert Gaxiola, and Jason Bush forced their way into the victims’ home claiming to be law enforcement officers looking for fugitives with the goal or robbing the home to fund their border protection group. Bush shot the mother, father, and daughter of the home. The mother survived by feigning death, but the father and daughter died (the daughter suffering two shots to the head after pleading for her life). Upon discovering the mother survived, Forde demanded that Bush return and finish her off. The prosecution argued six legal bases for seeking the death penalty including: crimes committed for monetary gain, a victim under 15 years old, and the slayings were cold and calculated. Bush offered little defense during the initial phase claiming he had shot Brisenia with his eyes closed in fear of his accomplices. The defense also argued Bush had been sent to a mental institution in his youth.
Sources: Arizona Daily Star (AR) 12/22/09 (2009 WLNR 26370753), Arizona Daily Star 3/24/11 (http://azstarnet.com/news/local/crime/article_115434bd-b442-5bdc-a389-2a0988e05d3d.html), Green Valley News and Sun 3/21/11 (http://www.gvnews.com/news/article_352d8abe-53e2-11e0-8c58-001cc4c002e0.html).
By: a judge upon jury recommendation
Date of crime: May 2009
Victim: Raul Junior Flores, 29, Brisenia Flores, 9
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Shawna Forde, Albert Gaxiola, and Jason Bush forced their way into the victims’ home claiming to be law enforcement officers looking for fugitives with the goal or robbing the home to fund their border protection group. Bush shot the mother, father, and daughter of the home. The mother survived by feigning death, but the father and daughter died (the daughter suffering two shots to the head after pleading for her life). Upon discovering the mother survived, Forde demanded that Bush return and finish her off. The prosecution argued six legal bases for seeking the death penalty including: crimes committed for monetary gain, a victim under 15 years old, and the slayings were cold and calculated. Bush offered little defense during the initial phase claiming he had shot Brisenia with his eyes closed in fear of his accomplices. The defense also argued Bush had been sent to a mental institution in his youth.
Sources: Arizona Daily Star (AR) 12/22/09 (2009 WLNR 26370753), Arizona Daily Star 3/24/11 (http://azstarnet.com/news/local/crime/article_115434bd-b442-5bdc-a389-2a0988e05d3d.html), Green Valley News and Sun 3/21/11 (http://www.gvnews.com/news/article_352d8abe-53e2-11e0-8c58-001cc4c002e0.html).
Shawna Forde – White, age 41
Sentenced in Pima County, Arizona
By: a jury
Date of crime: May 30, 2009
Victims: Raul Junior Flores, 29, Brisenia Flores, 9
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Forde, Albert Gaxiola, and Jason Bush forced their way into the victims’ home claiming to be law enforcement officers looking for fugitives with the goal of robbing the home to fund their border protection group. Bush shot the mother, father, and daughter of the home. The mother survived by feigning death, but the father and daughter died (the daughter suffering two shots to the head after pleading for her life). Upon discovering the mother survived, Forde demanded that Bush return and finish her off. The defense argued that a co-defendant’s girlfriend was present (not Forde), that she suffered repeated acts of sexual and physical abuse and abandonment as a child, and that her mental illness prevented her from acknowledging her role in the crime and from apologizing.
Sources: Ariz. Daily Star A2 2/19/11 (2011 WLNR 3482141), Ariz. Daily Star A1 2/23/11 (2011 WLNR 3845774)
By: a jury
Date of crime: May 30, 2009
Victims: Raul Junior Flores, 29, Brisenia Flores, 9
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Forde, Albert Gaxiola, and Jason Bush forced their way into the victims’ home claiming to be law enforcement officers looking for fugitives with the goal of robbing the home to fund their border protection group. Bush shot the mother, father, and daughter of the home. The mother survived by feigning death, but the father and daughter died (the daughter suffering two shots to the head after pleading for her life). Upon discovering the mother survived, Forde demanded that Bush return and finish her off. The defense argued that a co-defendant’s girlfriend was present (not Forde), that she suffered repeated acts of sexual and physical abuse and abandonment as a child, and that her mental illness prevented her from acknowledging her role in the crime and from apologizing.
Sources: Ariz. Daily Star A2 2/19/11 (2011 WLNR 3482141), Ariz. Daily Star A1 2/23/11 (2011 WLNR 3845774)
Mark Goudeau – Black, age 41-42
Sentenced in Maricopa County, Arizona
By: a jury
Date of crime: August 2005 – June 2006
Victim: eight women, one man
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Goudeau, aka the Baseline Killer, killed one man, shot and raped eight women, and raped eight women who survived their attacks. The defense attempted to call witnesses to testify to Goudeau’s traumatic childhood and mental illness, but Goudeau insisted that they stop after one offended him. He then took the stand against counsel’s advice. The prosecution in turn pointed out that he at no point apologized to the victims. Evidence showed all of the victims were forced to agonize over whether they would be raped or shot before being killed. Most victims were shot in the head.
Sources: 11/28/11 AP Alert – AZ 20:02:20, 11/30/11 AP Alert – Legal 22:31:16, 12/1/11 AP DataStream 01:45:24.
By: a jury
Date of crime: August 2005 – June 2006
Victim: eight women, one man
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Goudeau, aka the Baseline Killer, killed one man, shot and raped eight women, and raped eight women who survived their attacks. The defense attempted to call witnesses to testify to Goudeau’s traumatic childhood and mental illness, but Goudeau insisted that they stop after one offended him. He then took the stand against counsel’s advice. The prosecution in turn pointed out that he at no point apologized to the victims. Evidence showed all of the victims were forced to agonize over whether they would be raped or shot before being killed. Most victims were shot in the head.
Sources: 11/28/11 AP Alert – AZ 20:02:20, 11/30/11 AP Alert – Legal 22:31:16, 12/1/11 AP DataStream 01:45:24.
William Miller – White, age 29
Sentenced in Maricopa County, Arizona
By: a jury
Date of crime: February 2006
Victim: Steven Duffy, 30, Tammy Lovell, 32, Shane Duffy, 18, Jacob Lovell, 10, Cassandra Lovell, 15
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Having failed four times to hire hit men, Miller shot and killed the five victims. Steven Duffy and Tammy Lovell were to be witnesses in Miller’s upcoming arson case, and the rest of the victims were present at the killings. The prosecution noted aggravating factors of multiple murders, murder of a child, murdering to prevent a witness from testifying, and execution style kills (Lovell was in the fetal position when shot in the back; Jacob was shot in the forehead). The defense argued that Miller showed signs of serious mental illness.
Sources: Arizona Republic (AZ) 8/30/11 B1 (2011 WLNR 17144573), Arizona Republic
(AZ) 9/22/11 B3 (2011 WLNR 18957929).
By: a jury
Date of crime: February 2006
Victim: Steven Duffy, 30, Tammy Lovell, 32, Shane Duffy, 18, Jacob Lovell, 10, Cassandra Lovell, 15
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Having failed four times to hire hit men, Miller shot and killed the five victims. Steven Duffy and Tammy Lovell were to be witnesses in Miller’s upcoming arson case, and the rest of the victims were present at the killings. The prosecution noted aggravating factors of multiple murders, murder of a child, murdering to prevent a witness from testifying, and execution style kills (Lovell was in the fetal position when shot in the back; Jacob was shot in the forehead). The defense argued that Miller showed signs of serious mental illness.
Sources: Arizona Republic (AZ) 8/30/11 B1 (2011 WLNR 17144573), Arizona Republic
(AZ) 9/22/11 B3 (2011 WLNR 18957929).
Israel Naranjo – Latino, age 33
Sentenced in Maricopa County, Arizona
By: a jury
Date of crime: March 2007
Victim: Delia Rivera, 38
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Naranjo stabbed his girlfriend, Rivera, repeatedly in front of her three children before fleeing the scene. Rivera was five months pregnant with Naranjo’s child.
Sources: 3/26/07 Phoenix 5 KPHO-AZ (2007 WLNR 6128855)
By: a jury
Date of crime: March 2007
Victim: Delia Rivera, 38
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Naranjo stabbed his girlfriend, Rivera, repeatedly in front of her three children before fleeing the scene. Rivera was five months pregnant with Naranjo’s child.
Sources: 3/26/07 Phoenix 5 KPHO-AZ (2007 WLNR 6128855)
Stephen Douglas Reeves – White, age 52
Sentenced in Maricopa County, Arizona
By: a jury
Date of crime: June 2, 2007
Victim: Norma Gabriella Contreras, 18
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Reeves beat Contreras with a brick, choked her, and slit her throat with a box cutter. Blood and DNA evidence linked him to the crime as well as video surveillance of the murder. The defense argued substance abuse issues and intoxication at the time of the murder. He had been on a crime spree for two months and fled a California arrest warrant. The first jury was hung; the second convicted on first-degree murder, armed robbery, kidnapping, burglary, and auto theft.
Sources: Arizona Republic (AZ) B7 1/16/10 (2010 WLNR 976365), Arizona Republic (AZ) B1 5/17/11 (2011 WLNR 9807109).
By: a jury
Date of crime: June 2, 2007
Victim: Norma Gabriella Contreras, 18
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Reeves beat Contreras with a brick, choked her, and slit her throat with a box cutter. Blood and DNA evidence linked him to the crime as well as video surveillance of the murder. The defense argued substance abuse issues and intoxication at the time of the murder. He had been on a crime spree for two months and fled a California arrest warrant. The first jury was hung; the second convicted on first-degree murder, armed robbery, kidnapping, burglary, and auto theft.
Sources: Arizona Republic (AZ) B7 1/16/10 (2010 WLNR 976365), Arizona Republic (AZ) B1 5/17/11 (2011 WLNR 9807109).