Nevada 2005

Sentenced to death in Clark County, Nevada

By: A jury

Date of crime: 9/2/2003

Prosecution’s case/defense response: Archanian was a part-time jewelry repairman at World Merchants-Importers. While robbing the store, Archanian beat to death the owners with a hammer and ring sizer. Juana Quiroga died in the store and Elisa Del Prado died two months later from her injuries. The prosecution presented the surveillance tape of the robbery, Archanian’s clothes which had blood on them, and $250,000 worth of jewelry that was taken in the robbery and found in Archanian’s car. During the penalty phase the defense argued Archanian was not a violent person and did not have a criminal history.

Prosecutor(s): David Roger, Greg Knapp Defense lawyer(s): Mace Yampolsky, William Grayser

Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal 12/8/2004, 12/9/2004, 12/10/2004

Sentenced to death in Clark County, Nevada

By: A jury

Date of crime: 8/14/1998

Prosecution’s case/defense response: Johnson and two cohorts invaded a home, used duct tape to restrain the four occupants, and then shot each in the head. Afterwards Johnson laughed about the noises the men made as they were being shot. Johnson also had a long criminal record, including another attempted murder that left the victim paralyzed. Further, his behavior in jail included trying to orchestrate a murder, threatening a woman over the phone, and participating in tossing another prisoner off a balcony at the jail. The defense presented evidence of Johnson’s terrible childhood in the slums of Los Angeles.

Prosecutor(s): Robert Daskas

Defense lawyer(s): Bret Whipple, Alzora Jackson

Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal 4/26/2005 (2005 WLNR 6574506), 4/27/2005 (2005 WLNR 6627843), 4/29/2005 (2005 WLNR 6846429), 4/30/2005 (2005 WLNR 6846415).