Arizona executes Richard Djerf

The state of Arizona executed Richard Djerf by lethal injection on Oct. 17 in a prison facility in Florence.

His time of death was 10:40 a.m., and he had no last words, said John Barcello, deputy director of the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry.

Djerf was sentenced to death for the 1993 murders of Albert Luna Sr., his wife, Patricia Luna, and 2 of their children, Rochelle Luna, 18, and Damien Luna, 5, in Phoenix.
They were family members of Djerf's roommate, Albert Luna Jr., who Djerf believed had stolen electronics and a gun from him.

He spent 30 years on death row, and was the second person to die via the death penalty in Arizona this year.

"A savage attack"

When he was just 23 years old, Djerf viciously killed Albert Luna Sr., his wife Patricia Luna and their two children Rochelle, 18, and 5-year-old Damien, to exact revenge on a former friend.

On the fateful day in September 1993, Djerf went to the Luna family home, armed with a handgun, a knife, gloves and handcuffs.

Prosecutors said Djerf’s savage attack was revenge motivated, after his former friend Albert Luna Jr. broke into his home and stole electronic equipment and an AK-47 assault rifle.

Court documents said he was “determined to take revenge” when he forced his way into the Luna home.

Djerf tied Rochelle’s wrists to the bed, before forcibly slashing her clothes off with a knife. He raped her before stabbing the 18-year-old in the chest and head, then slit her throat.

He murdered Albert Luna Sr. when he arrived home from work.

Djerf hit the father to the back of the head “multiple times” using a baseball bat, coating the room with blood.

Albert attempted to fight back as Djerf plotted to kill five-year-old Damien, but his efforts were in vain.

Djerf shot him six times.

Finally, the merciless killer tied Patricia and Damien to chairs before shooting them in the head “at close range”.

He then doused the room in gasoline, and left the stove burners on before leaving in the family car, the Phoenix New Times reported.

"Volunteer"

Luna Jr. declined to talk to Republic reporters in the days leading up to the execution.

Djerf was the 2nd person to be executed by Arizona in 2025. In March, Aaron Gunches was the 1st to be put to death by the state since 2022. Officials hit pause on the death penalty that year after executioners had trouble inserting IVs into 3 successive condemned men.

Djerf, 55, in September said in a handwritten statement provided to The Arizona Republic that he would not ask for his life to be spared and that he hoped his death would bring "some measure of peace."

Djerf's attorney previously said the criminal justice system failed Djerf and that putting him to death would bring no justice. Djerf had undiagnosed Autism Spectrum Disorder and brain damage when he killed the Lunas, according to his attorney, Therese Day.

Djerf told The Republic the week of his execution that he was ready to die.

"I would prefer that this not be happening, but that is a choice I lost 32 years ago," he wrote in a message. "The only thing I can do is face up to what I've done and accept this punishment with as much dignity as possible."

Djerf said he hoped the focus after his death would shift to the Lunas.

"They are who should be remembered, not me," he wrote.

Djerf told The Republic on Oct. 16 that he was expecting his final dinner to be at 5:30 p.m. the day before his death.

Witnesses describe Richard Djerf's execution

Djerf was "completely compliant" during the execution, said John Hook of FOX 10, 1 of 5 media witnesses.

The execution team struggled to insert the IVs, Hook said. “This is not easy stuff, especially with a heavy man," he said.

Briana Whitney of Arizona’s Family said Djerf did not appear to be in any pain and that the process seemed "peaceful" and "clinical." He did not look at the witnesses, she said.

Sejal Govindarao of the Associated Press said the process of inserting the IVs into Djerf's arms took about 9 minutes.

Héctor Lagunas of Univision said Djerf "never opened his eyes, from the start to the end."

At one point, Lagunas said he saw blood on one of Djerf's arms as techs were trying to insert an IV, but they cleaned it up as they went.

Djerf becomes the 2nd condemned inmate to be put to death this year in Arizona and the 42nd overall since the state resumed capital punishment on April 6, 1992.

Djerf becomes the 39th condemned inmate to be put to death this year in the USA and the 1,646th overall since the nation resumed executions on January 17, 1977.

Source: Arizona Republic, Staff, Rick Halperin, October 17, 2025

"One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed,
but by the punishments that the good have inflicted."

— Oscar Wilde

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