Richard Kenneth Djerf, 55, was executed Friday by lethal injection for the 1993 murders of four members of a Phoenix family in a revenge plot over stolen goods. Djerf was pronounced dead after the state’s second execution of the year and the 39th nationally in 2025.
Djerf was convicted of killing Albert Luna Sr., Patricia Luna, their 18-year-old daughter Rochelle Luna, and 5-year-old son Damien Luna at their home. Prosecutors stated Djerf blamed another family member for stealing electronics and a gun from his apartment months earlier.
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes affirmed that the victims “deserve justice, and their loved ones deserve closure.” Djerf, who had been imprisoned for over 29 years, declined to seek clemency and made no final statement.
READ: Florida Gov. DeSantis’ Record Execution Pace Continues As Norman Grim Waives All Appeals
The execution process, which required several attempts to successfully place the IV lines, took about 15 minutes from the first lethal shot to the declaration of death. A deputy director for the Department of Corrections noted the process “went according to plan and without any incident,” though Djerf’s veins were “not optimal.”
The execution comes after Arizona has faced past criticism and two execution pauses since 2014 over concerns about the lethal injection process, including a botched execution in 2014. Djerf’s execution leaves 107 prisoners on Arizona’s death row.
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