Edward Schad

Murderer

1known / alleged victims

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Case Facts

Gender: male
Country: USA
Location: Yavapai County, Arizona, USA
Date of birth: J uly 27, 1942
Age at first offence: 36
Characteristics: robbery
Victim profile: Lorimer "Leroy" Graves, 74
Method of murder: Strangulation with a rope
Date(s) of murder: August 1, 1978
Years active: 1978
Date of arrest: September 9, 1978
Status: Sentenced to death
Executed by lethal injection in Arizona on October 9, 2013; sentenced to death on December 27, 1979; resentenced to death on August 29, 1985

Case Summary

Case overview

Edward Schad was tried for the killing of Lorimer “Leroy” Graves, a 74-year-old Bisbee resident. Graves was taken in a new Cadillac and was later found dead in the brush near U.S. Highway 89 south of Prescott after being strangled with a rope knotted around his neck.

Timeline

August 1, 1978 — Lorimer “Leroy” Graves, a 74-year-old Bisbee resident, left Bisbee in a new Cadillac on a trip to Everett, Washington, to visit his sister.
August 9, 1978 — Graves’ badly decomposed body was discovered hidden in the brush just off U.S. Highway 89 south of Prescott.
September 26, 1979 — Start of trial (first trial).
October 5, 1979 — Verdict (first trial).
December 27, 1979 — Sentencing (first trial).
June 18, 1985 — Start of trial (second trial).
June 27, 1985 — Verdict (second trial).
August 29, 1985 — Resentencing to death (second sentencing).
October 9, 2013 — Executed by lethal injection in Arizona.

The offence

On August 9, 1978, Graves’ badly decomposed body was discovered hidden in the brush just off U.S. Highway 89 south of Prescott. Mr. Graves had been strangled with a rope that was still knotted around his neck.

Investigation and arrest

A month after Graves was last seen leaving Bisbee, Schad was stopped for speeding in New York. Schad was driving Mr. Graves’ Cadillac, and many of Mr. Graves’ personal belongings were in the car.

Trial

First trial

Start of Trial: September 26, 1979
Presiding Judge: Paul G. Rosenblatt
Prosecutor: Steve Jaynes
Verdict: October 5, 1979

Second trial

Start of Trial: June 18, 1985
Presiding Judge: Richard Anderson
Prosecutor: Frank Dawley
Verdict: June 27, 1985

Sentencing

First trial sentencing: December 27, 1979 — sentenced to death.
Second sentencing: August 29, 1985 — resentenced to death.

Aggravating and mitigating circumstances

Aggravating Circumstances: Prior conviction punishable by life imprisonment; prior conviction involving violence; pecuniary gain.
Mitigating Circumstances: None sufficient to call for leniency.

Appeals

State v. Schad, 129 Ariz. 557, 633 P.2d 366 (1981).
State v. Schad, 142 Ariz. 619, 691 P.2d 710 (1984).
State v. Schad, 163 Ariz. 411, 788 P.2d 1162 (1989).
Schad v. Arizona, 501 U.S. 624, 111 S. Ct. 2491, 115 L. Ed. 2d 555 (1991).

Other details

Edward Harold Schad was identified as Edward Harold Schad.

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