AZ AG Mayes calls for execution of man convicted of 'heinous' 1993 Phoenix family murders

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes filed a motion for Richard Kenneth Djerf's execution, who was convicted of murdering a Phoenix family in 1993. The requested execution date is October 14, 2025, following Djerf's conviction in 1996 for killing Albert Luna Sr. , his wife Patricia, and their children, Rochelle and Damien. The murders were carried out in retaliation against Albert Luna Jr. , whom Djerf accused of stealing from him.

Djerf's violent actions included binding Patricia Luna and attempting to kill her son Damien in front of her before murdering the entire family. He later bragged about the killings, describing the bloodshed as "really awesome. " Mayes, in a prior statement, affirmed her commitment to enforcing the death penalty as a matter of law and justice for victims. The motion was filed on July 25, 2025, as part of a broader effort to pursue execution dates for death row inmates who have exhausted their appeals. Djerf remains incarcerated at the Rincon Unit in Tucson.