Warning: Graphic content, readers’ discretion advised. This story contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some readers discretion advised.

Richard Kenneth Djerf was convicted of the murders of four members of the Luna family in Phoenix, Arizona. 

The victims were Albert Luna Sr., his wife Patricia Luna, their daughter Rochelle (18), and their son Damien (5).

The murders took place on September 14, 1993. 

Motive: Djerf blamed another family member (Albert Luna Jr.) for an alleged theft of electronics and a gun. He carried out a revenge attack.

Methods: According to prosecutors, the crime involved deceit (he posed as a flower delivery person), sexual assault of one of the victims, stabbing, beating, shooting, and other brutal actions.

Djerf pleaded guilty and was sentenced to death in 1996.

He remained on death row for nearly three decades (over 29 years). 

His execution date was scheduled for October 17, 2025. 

Part of the delay is simply due to the appeals,procedural reviews,and the legal system’s pace when dealing with death penalty cases .

(which often involves many stages:trial, appeals, clemency petitions, etc.)

On October 17, 2025, Richard Kenneth Djerf was executed by lethal injection in Arizona. 

He did not seek clemency. 

His lawyer had raised concerns that Djerf had been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and questioned whether his legal representation had been adequate during trial and/or appeals. 

According to the Maricopa County Attorney, the crime was so egregious that the death penalty was deemed necessary

Crime scene fotages