George Molina Lopez
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- Gender
- male
- Country
- USA
- Location
- Pima County, Arizona, USA
- Date of birth
- February 5, 1953
- Age at first offence
- 36
- Characteristics
- child abuse
- Victim profile
- 1-year-old son, Anthony
- Method of murder
- Beating
- Date(s) of murder
- August 26, 1989
- Years active
- 1989
- Date of arrest
- —
- Status
-
Sentenced to death
Sentenced to death on May 17, 1990
Case record: George Molina Lopez
Background
George Molina Lopez lived in a Tucson apartment with his girlfriend and their 1-year-old son, Anthony, in August 1989.
The offence
In August 1989, around 10:00 a.m. on August 26, the mother went shopping and left Anthony home with Lopez. When she returned around noon, Anthony had bruises on his forehead and chin and seemed unusually quiet.
Lopez told her that the child had pulled a nightstand over on top of himself. The mother wanted to take the boy to a doctor, but Lopez persuaded her he would be all right.
About 2 hours later, the mother went to the laundromat and, when she returned, Lopez was performing CPR on Anthony. Anthony was taken to the hospital, where he died a short time later.
The autopsy showed that Anthony had numerous bruises on his face, chest and back, a skull fracture on each side of the back of his head, broken ribs and a torn pancreas.
Investigation
No investigation details were provided beyond the autopsy findings and the reported circumstances of Anthony’s injuries and death.
Trial
Presiding Judge: Margaret M. Houghton Prosecutors: Sylvia Lafferty and Allen McVey Start of Trial: April 3, 1990 Verdict: April 10, 1990
Sentencing
Sentencing: May 17, 1990 Aggravating Circumstances: Especially heinous/cruel/depraved; Victim under 15 Mitigating Circumstances: None sufficient to call for leniency
Appeals
Lopez’s convictions and sentences were affirmed on direct appeal.
Published opinion: State v. Lopez (George M.), 174 Ariz. 131, 847 P.2d 1078 (1992).
Other details
Anthony was 1 year old. The mother and Lopez were living together in a Tucson apartment at the time of the events.
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