A convicted criminal facing execution for a heinous crime that took the lives of four family members, including a young child, has penned a letter seeking forgiveness. Richard Djerf, set to be put to death for the murders of the Luna family over three decades ago, has expressed remorse for the suffering he caused. The Arizona Attorney General’s Office, responsible for pursuing Djerf’s execution, has refrained from commenting on his apology. Despite his plea, Djerf, aged 55, is still slated to receive a lethal injection on October 17 for the brutal killings of Albert Luna Sr, Patricia, Rochelle, and Damien Luna.
Djerf allegedly harbored a grudge against Albert Luna Jr, whom he blamed for a previous theft, leading to a vengeful obsession that culminated in the tragic events at the Luna family home in Phoenix, Arizona. If carried out, this execution will mark Arizona’s second application of capital punishment this year, with Florida leading the nation in executions, having recently put David Joseph Pittman to death after a lengthy period on death row.
Reports indicate that Djerf committed horrific acts of violence against the Luna family, including sexual assault, beatings, and fatal shootings. In a recent statement, Djerf acknowledged the innocence of Albert Jr in the tragic events, emphasizing that the blame solely rested on him. Arizona, where 108 inmates are currently on death row, last executed Aaron Brian Gunches in mid-March for a crime committed in 2002, following a hiatus due to past controversies surrounding execution methods and drug procurement challenges.
The state faced criticism for a botched execution in 2014, where Joseph Wood suffered a prolonged and distressing death after being injected with multiple doses of drugs over an extended period. Arizona has since grappled with issues related to the death penalty, with a total of three executions carried out in 2022 after an almost eight-year pause in response to these challenges.
