Shad Daniel Armstrong

Case record: Shad Daniel Armstrong

Background

Shad Daniel Armstrong burglarized a home in Texas in late August 1996 with his sister Farrah and a friend. Over the next couple of years, Farrah’s relationship with Armstrong deteriorated. In January 1998, Armstrong knew that Farrah was considering turning herself in for the 1996 burglary. At that time, Armstrong and another friend, Doogan, began to discuss how they would murder Farrah and her fiancé.

The offence

In early February 1998, Armstrong and Doogan dug a grave on Doogan’s property. Armstrong lured Farrah to Doogan’s residence, where he planned to shoot her with a shotgun, but he was unable to carry out the plan.

On February 18, 1998, Armstrong and Doogan made a plan to lure both Farrah and Frank to Doogan’s residence the next day to carry out the murders.

In preparing for the murders on February 19, 1998, Armstrong and Doogan hung sheets on the walls to capture any blood splatter. They also gathered plastic bags to cover the victims’ upper bodies after the shooting. Farrah and Frank arrived at Doogan’s around dusk that day. The group congregated in the living room, where Farrah, Frank, and Doogan sat down. Armstrong went down the hall to retrieve the shotgun. He returned with the gun in hand, pointed it at Frank and shot him in the midsection. Farrah screamed and started to get up, but Armstrong turned and shot her first in the midsection, and then in the head. Armstrong then turned back to Frank and shot him in the head. Armstrong and Doogan gathered the bodies, dumped them in the pre-dug grave, and covered them, after having stripped Farrah of her money and jewelry.

Investigation and arrest

Armstrong was on the run until he was finally arrested in January 1999.

Trial

Armstrong was charged with two counts of first degree murder and one count of conspiracy to commit murder. His trial started January 24, 2000, and lasted 33 days. A jury convicted him on all charges.

Sentencing

At the aggravation/mitigation hearing in August 2000, the trial court found pecuniary gain and the double homicides were aggravating factors. After considering mitigating evidence, the trial court imposed the sentence of death for each homicide and 25 years to life for the conspiracy conviction.

Appeals

Armstrong presented two issues on appeal:

1. Whether prosecutorial misconduct and erroneous rulings from the court combined to deprive Armstrong of his Constitutional right to a fair trial.
2. Whether the imposition of the death penalty was improper.

Outcome

Sentenced to death on November 15, 2006.

Aftermath

The Supreme Court of Arizona issued a supplemental opinion designated CR-00-0595-AP.

Other details

Armstrong’s sister was Farrah. The fiancé referred to was Frank. Doogan was a friend involved in the burglary planning and the murders.