Randy Garcia

Background

Randy Garcia was a 37-year-old man. He wrote poetry while on death row.

The offence

On May 8, 1993, Garcia broke into the home of Joseph and Lynn Finzel, 29 and 28 respectively. Joseph Finzel was not at home, and their baby daughter was asleep in her crib.

Garcia tied Mrs. Finzel to the bed and attempted to rape her. Joseph Finzel returned home during the incident and was shot by Garcia with his own gun. Garcia then turned and shot Mrs. Finzel.

While Mrs. Finzel was shot, she played "dead" for two hours in fear for her baby daughter’s life. The bed on which she was tied was a water bed, and the water was seeping to the surface. Mrs. Finzel had to try to keep from drowning while also pretending to be dead. Garcia ransacked the house, stealing the wedding ring off her dead husband’s hand. Garcia left the home thinking his victims were dead.

After Garcia left, Mrs. Finzel freed herself, climbed over her husband’s dead body, and staggered into the street for help with a bullet lodged in her.

Investigation

Mrs. Finzel positively identified Garcia. The narrative stated that there was “no question of Garcia's guilt in this crime.”

Trial

Garcia was convicted of murder in 1993.

Mrs. Finzel said, at the sentencing, that she would be there at the execution.

Sentencing

Garcia was sentenced to death on March 23, 1995.

Outcome

Garcia remained on death row.

The narrative stated that Mrs. Finzel had been waiting for 12 years, while Joseph Finzel had been dead for 14 years. Her baby daughter was now a teenager and had never known her father.

Aftermath

Garcia wrote poetry in prison and looked for pen pals.

The narrative described photos posted by Garcia, including that one photo showed him “draped only in a towel,” and that the photos showed a young man about 25 years old, which was the age he was when he entered death row. The narrative also stated that he did not express remorse over his crime.

The narrative stated that Mrs. Finzel would be there at the execution and that she had been waiting for 12 years.

Other details

The narrative asserted that there was no memorial page about Joseph and Lynn Finzel’s victims. It stated that only a brief summary about the crime was found when searching online. The narrative referenced “Canadian Citizens Against the Death Penalty” providing Randy with a web site where he could exhibit his poetry and photos and ask for pen pals.