Arizona executes inmate for double murder in 1987

Daniel Cook was executed tonight in Arizona for the murder of Kevin Swaney and Carlos Cruz Ramos in 1987, in Lake Havasu City, Arizona.

Cook was only hours away from execution in April 2011 when the U.S. Supreme Court issued a stay while it considered his claim that he was poorly represented during his appeals – less than a year later it turned down his case.

25 years ago, Cook and co-defendant John Matzke, murdered two co-workers – Carlos Cruz Ramos, 26-years-old and Kevin Swaney, just 16-years-old, but they did not just kill them, they sodomized, tortured and then strangled them.

Cook was 50-years-old, and had been a quiet and peaceful person before the murders and ever since the crime – but claimed that the murders took place during a night of heavy drinking – Cook claims to have no recollection of the crime at all. Matzke went to police, confessed and testified against Cook – he was given 20 years and was released in 2007.

Cook’s last meal included: eggplant lasagna, mashed potatoes, brussel sprouts, asparagus, ice cream, and root beer.

Cook’s final words were ”I’d like to say sorry to the victim’s family. I know that’s not enough. Where am I? To my lawyers, thank you. Red Robin, yum. I’m done. I love you.”

Cook was pronounced dead at 12:03pm EST today, just less than 40 minutes after the lethal injection process began.

Arizona inmate executed this morning

Lopez was pronounced dead at 11:37am EST.

Samuel Villegas Lopez was executed this morning in Eyman state prison this morning in Florence, Arizona. He was sentenced to death for the rape and murder of Estafana Holmes in Phoenix, Arizona.

When asked if he had any final words, he simply said, “No, I do not.”

Nine members of the victim’s family were there to watch his execution. Lopez’s last meal was two chili burritos con carne, Spanish rice, a jalepeño, an avocado, cottage cheese and french fries a 20-ounce Coke, vanilla ice cream and a chopped pineapple.

Lopez was pronounced dead at 11:37am EST – 40 minutes after the execution process began.

Clemency denied for Samuel Lopez, scheduled to die on Wednesday

Lopez's last chance for clemency is with the U.S. Supreme Court

Samuel Lopez’s last chance for another reprieve from the death chamber is the Supreme Court. The Arizona Board of Executive Clemency denied Lopez’s request for a reprieve by a vote of 4-0. The Arizona Supreme Court also denied his request last week.

Lopez was convicted of murdering Estefana Holmes in Phoenix, Arizona in 1986. Lopez raped and sodomized Holmes, and then stabbed her 23 times and slashing her throat.

Lopez’s original execution date was scheduled for May 15th, but he received a stay when the Arizona Supreme Court issued a judgement that recently added members to the clemency board had not received adequate training and therefore he did not get a proper hearing.

Lopez is being held in Eyman state prison.

Samuel Lopez receives last minute stay of execution

Lopez's new execution date is June 27th.

Samuel Lopez’s execution was stayed with less than 24 hours to go until he was scheduled to die in Arizona’s death chamber.

Lopez was given the death sentence for the rape and murder of  Estefana Holmes  in 1986.

At issue for the delay in execution was Lopez’s lawyer’s assertion that the Arizona Executive Board of Clemency board was not trained or qualified enough to handle Lopez’s case and make a fair decision.

Lopez’s new execution date has been set for June 27th, 2012 giving the Clemency board ample time for training. The Arizona Supreme Court agreed and postponed the execution.

Thomas Kemp executed in Arizona

Kemp was pronounced dead at 10:08am today.

Almost 20 years since murdering Arizona resident Hector Juarez, Thomas Kemp was put to death for his crime. Kemp is the third execution in Arizona in 2012.

Kemp’s last words were “I regret nothing”, which was particularly fitting since he never expressed any regret or remorse about his crime.

Kemp’s victim, 25-year-old Hector Juarez, was abducted from his Tuscon apartment and then driven to an ATM where he was forced to withdraw $200. Kemp then drove him out to a remote area in the desert, made his takes his clothes off and then shot him twice in the head. Kemp later took Juarez’s truck and sold it.

Kemp, 63, was pronounced dead at 10:08am.