Arizona death penalty injustice

** Arizona execution scheduled: Donald Edward Beaty May 25

Welcome to our site

This site is intended to reveal the corruption and malfeasance that led to capital convictions in Phoenix during the 1980’s and 90’s. These are nonfiction stories based on the record of the cases. The content is extensive in order to clearly provide the facts of the wrongful convictions spoken of. This leaves the reader to decide if four people‘s lives are worth the time that it would take to read a short book. We hope those who care and want to make a difference will decide they are.

Translate This Page

Executed

Freed - plea of no contest

Exonerated

Those Arrested December 1989 And Sentenced To Death

and its own well being than the way it handles criminals

Ramsey Clark - Former U.S. AttThose Arrested December 1989 Debra Jean Milke: DOB 3/10/64 #83533

Eldon Schurz: DOB 8/8/63 # 43800

Jim Styers: DOB 9/3/47

Eric J. King: DOB 9/30/63 #46518 - Executed

Jeffrey Timothy Landrigan: DOB 3/14/60 - Executed

Debra Milke: DOB 3/10/64 #83533

For decades there have been secrets in the Arizona desert, malfeasance and lies that threaten the lives of people who await execution for crimes that the evidence indicates they did not commit. Within this site is the story of Jeff Landrigan who was executed in 2010, and the ongoing sagas of Eric King, Debra Milke, Jim Styers and Eldon Schurz. All five were arrested in December of 1989 and the four remaining alive are very near to execution, with Eric’s date set for March 29th . However, all four cases leave more than a little doubt as to their guilt, with Eric, Debra, Jim and Eldon professing innocence.

Additionally, these stories include the work of a group of detectives who clearly did not mind coercion, lies or fabrication to assure conviction in a case. Foremost, among them is retired Phoenix Detective Armando Saldate who had a less than sterling reputation including that he was known to use and disciplined for his coercive tactics during interrogations. His character can easily be called into question. However, his tall tales and dubious actions were almost solely responsible for the convictions of Eric, Debra, Jim and Eldon, when there was actually no credible evidence in any of the cases. There is also Detective Mike Chambers who either blatantly lies during another proceeding concerning Eldon’s codefendant or knowingly allows the codefendant to lie in court to free himself. A minor role was even played by Detective Charles Gregory who was later proven to have assisted Noel Levy in the wrongful prosecution of Ray.

None of the inmates spoken of here was above reproach in 1989. However, there is clearly a web of deceit that led to their facing execution. In all of the cases, there is not enough credible evidence to support conviction and certainly not enough to justify taking their lives. At best, each of them was wrongfully convicted. The evidence indicates that they were imprisoned for crimes that they did not commit. Thus, the question becomes is wrongful conviction acceptable if the person’s record is less than stellar?

We the staff of arizona-death-penalty-injustice believe that there should be justice for all. Therefore, we ask that all of you will lend a hand in bringing truth to the desert by assisting us in exposing these cases and other Maricopa County prosecutions for the shams that they are.

***Disclaimer*** All articles on this site are the views of Arizona death penalty injustice staff. Inmates from ADOC are not involved in any of the views expressed.