Richard Dean Hurles

Case name

Richard Dean Hurles

Parties

• Defendant: Richard Dean Hurles (Caucasian)
• Victim: Caucasian librarian

Status and legal outcome

Richard Dean Hurles was sentenced to death on October 13, 1994. At trial, the jury found Hurles guilty of first-degree murder, attempted sexual assault, and first-degree burglary. His conviction and sentence were affirmed on automatic, direct appeal to the Arizona Supreme Court in State v. Hurles, 185 Ariz. 199, 914 P.2d 1291 (1996).

Execution-related events occurred when a warrant of execution was issued for Richard Dean Hurles #39884 on February 23, 2000, and a stay of execution was issued on January 24, 2000 for the February 23, 2000 execution date.

Timeline

• November 12, 1992 — Two witnesses observed Hurles in the Buckeye Public library looking at childrens' books; later that afternoon, a librarian was found lying in a pool of blood after a front door was locked and Hurles was seen leaving from the rear door.
• March 31, 1994 — Start of trial.
• April 15, 1994 — Verdict.
• October 13, 1994 — Sentencing.
• January 6, 2000 — Warrant of Execution was issued for the execution of Richard Dean Hurles #39884 on February 23, 2000.
• January 24, 2000 — Stay of Execution was issued for Richard Dean Hurles #39884 on February 23, 2000.
• 1996 — State v. Hurles, 185 Ariz. 199, 914 P.2d 1291 (1996): conviction and sentence affirmed.

Background

Two witnesses observed Hurles in the Buckeye Public library looking at childrens' books on November 12, 1992. That same afternoon, Hurles went to his nephew's house and asked his nephew to give him a ride to the Phoenix Greyhound bus station.

The offence

On November 12, 1992, two men tried to enter the Buckeye Public library but found the front door locked. As these men were trying to get in, another witness saw Hurles leaving from the rear door of the library.

One of the men looked in a window and saw a woman, who was the librarian, lying in a pool of blood. When police arrived, they found the victim's blouse was bloody, her skirt was pulled up around her waist, and she was naked from the waist down.

The victim had been stabbed 37 times and later died from these stab wounds.

On the way to Phoenix, Hurles threw a bloody teeshirt and blue jeans into the desert.

Investigation

Police responded after the victim was seen in a pool of blood and after the librarian was identified as the victim. The victim’s injuries included 37 stab wounds, and the investigation included physical evidence showing her blouse was bloody and her skirt was pulled up around her waist, and she was naked from the waist down.

The court later described evidence related to the victim’s consciousness and suffering: the Court found the victim was conscious based on evidence that she tried to reach a phone, later responded to paramedics who treated her at the scene, and a witness who saw her directly after the attack spoke to her before calling 911. The Court found that the victim must have suffered "great terror." The Court found that the victim suffered "great pain" during the attack. The Court found that the victim endured fifteen defensive stab wounds to her hands, eight stab wounds to her head, twelve stab wounds to her torso, and two stab wounds to her lower extremities. The victim further suffered blunt force trauma, which tore her liver. The Court found this "barrage of violence" to be "above the norm of even first-degree murder, leaving no room to doubt that this murder was especially cruel." 185 Ariz. at 207.

Arrest

Hurles was later arrested when the bus stopped in Wickenberg.

Trial

• Superior Court (Maricopa)
• Presiding Judge: Ruth Hilliard
• Prosecutor: Al Fenzel
• Start of trial: March 31, 1994
• Verdict: April 15, 1994

The jurors found Hurles guilty of:

• first-degree murder
• attempted sexual assault
• first-degree burglary

Sentencing

• Sentencing date: October 13, 1994

Hurles received a death sentence.

Aggravating circumstances

The aggravating circumstance was:

• Especially heinous, cruel, or depraved

Procedural treatment of that factor included:

• (F)(6) (Heinous, Cruel or Depraved) — UPHELD
• Cruel: Upheld.
• Mental Anguish: Found.
• Physical Pain: Found.

The Court found that the victim was conscious and suffered "great terror" and "great pain" and described the attack as a "barrage of violence" "above the norm of even first-degree murder, leaving no room to doubt that this murder was especially cruel." 185 Ariz. at 207.

Mitigating circumstances

The Court found mitigating circumstances existed but were insufficiently substantial to call for leniency:

• Difficult Childhood/Family History Model Prisoner
• good behavior during his prior incarceration

Appeals

This was Hurles’s automatic, direct appeal to the Arizona Supreme Court.

PUBLISHED OPINIONS:

• State v. Hurles, 185 Ariz. 199, 914 P.2d 1291 (1996)

Procedural posture

Hurles was convicted in Superior Court (Maricopa) of first-degree murder and was sentenced to death. The matter proceeded as defendant’s automatic, direct appeal to the Arizona Supreme Court.

Appellate judgment

• Conviction and sentence affirmed.

For the aggravation factor, cruel was upheld and mental anguish and physical pain were found. Heinous or depreaved was not addressed.

Outcome

Conviction and sentence were affirmed in State v. Hurles, 185 Ariz. 199, 914 P.2d 1291 (1996). Hurles was sentenced to death on October 13, 1994.

Aftermath

A Warrant of Execution was issued for the execution of the ADC inmate Richard Dean Hurles #39884 on February 23, 2000, on January 6, 2000. A Stay of Execution was issued on January 24, 2000 for the February 23, 2000 execution date.