Richard Stokley

Background

Richard Dale Stokley was a male, Caucasian, born 09/09/1952. He had a height of 77 inches and a weight of 230. His hair color was brown and his eye color was brown. At the time of the offences, he was 38 years old, and his co-defendant Randy Brazeal was 20 years old.

Stokley attended a community celebration during the Fourth of July weekend near Elfrida, where he was present to work as a stunt man in Old West reenactments. Two 13-year-old girls, Mandy Meyers and Mary Snyder, attended the community celebration near Elfrida and camped out at the celebration site on July 7.

The offence

On July 8, 1991, Stokley and Randy Brazeal kidnapped two 13-year-old girls near Elfrida in Cochise County and took them to a remote area. They raped the girls.

Fearing the consequences, the men agreed to kill the girls. Each man strangled one of the girls. To ensure that the victims were dead, Stokley repeatedly stomped on them and stabbed each of them in the right eye. Stokley and Brazeal then threw the bodies down a water-filled mine shaft. The girls’ bodies were described as nude and were later found in an abandoned mine shaft.

Investigation and evidence

The next day after the kidnapping and killings, Brazeal surrendered himself and his car to police in Chandler, Arizona. The hood of Brazeal’s car had semen stains, as well as dents matching the shape of human buttocks. Palm prints on the hood matched Brazeal. The back seat had semen stains matching Stokley and also had blood stains. Police found a bloody pair of men’s pants in the car.

Stokley called a woman in Elfrida asking her to send someone to pick him up in Benson, Arizona. The woman asked about the missing girls, and Stokley responded: “What girls? I don't know anything about any girls.”

Police arrested Stokley that same day at a Benson truck stop. Police found blood stains on his shoes, and his pants looked as if they had recently been cut off at the knee.

After reading Stokley his Miranda rights, police questioned him at the Benson police station. Stokley initially denied any knowledge of the girls. After hearing about Brazeal’s arrest and being asked about “a particular mine shaft around Gleason,” Stokley admitted that he and Brazeal had sexually assaulted the girls. He admitted having sex with “the brown haired girl” (Mandy) and stated that Brazeal had sex with both of them. He said he and Brazeal discussed killing the girls, that he choked one, and Brazeal strangled the other.

Stokley admitted: “I ... choked 'em. There was one foot moving though I knew they was brain dead but I was getting scared. They just wouldn't quit. It was terrible.”

Stokley also admitted using his knife on both girls. After killing the girls, the men dumped the bodies down a mine shaft.

Stokley led the police to the abandoned mine shaft. He expressed hope that the trial would not take long so he could “get the needle and get it over with.” After explaining how they had moved timbers covering the shaft to dump the bodies, he pointed out where he and Brazeal had burned the girls’ clothes. Police recovered the nude bodies from the muddy mine shaft.

Autopsies showed that both girls had been sexually assaulted, strangled (the cause of death), and stabbed in the right eye. The strangulation marks showed repeated efforts to kill, with the grip relaxed and then tightened again. Both victims suffered internal and external injuries to their necks. Mandy also had stomp marks on her body that matched the soles of Stokley’s shoes.

Evidence was consistent with each victim being killed by a different perpetrator. Mary’s body had a mark on the neck consistent with Brazeal’s boot, while bruise marks on Mandy matched the soles of Stokley’s shoes. More force was used in strangling Mandy than Mary. DNA analysis indicated that both defendants had intercourse with Mandy. Mary’s body cavities were filled with mud, making DNA analysis impossible.

Arrest

Police arrested Stokley in Benson, Arizona on the day after Brazeal surrendered himself and his car in Chandler, Arizona. He was arrested at a Benson truck stop. Blood stains were found on his shoes, and his pants appeared to have recently been cut off at the knee.

Trial

Charges and counts found by the jury

The jury found Stokley guilty of:

• Two counts of kidnapping
• One count of sexual conduct with a minor under the age of fifteen (Mandy)
• Two counts of premeditated first degree murder

The jury acquitted Stokley on:

• Two counts of sexual assault (Mary and Mandy)
• One count of sexual conduct with a minor under the age of fifteen (Mary)

Court and counsel

The presiding judge was Hon. Matthew Borowiec.

The prosecutor was Chris M. Roll and Vincent J. Festa.

The defense counsel was Robert Arentz and Philip Maxey.

Trial dates and verdict

The start of trial was March 12, 1992. The verdict was reached March 27, 1992.

Special verdict and findings on aggravation and mitigation

Following a sentencing hearing on the capital counts, the trial court rendered a detailed twelve-page special verdict. The court found facts established beyond a reasonable doubt, including that:

• Both adults engaged in sex with the girls.
• The defendants agreed to kill both girls.
• Stokley intentionally killed Mandy.
• Brazeal intentionally killed Mary.
• Both Mary and Mandy suffered great physical pain and mental anguish during strangulation.
• Stokley admitted choking both victims.
• Both bodies were stomped, with Mandy bearing the imprint of Stokley’s sneaker.
• Stokley stabbed both girls, Mandy through the right eye and Mary in the vicinity of the right eye.
• Although alcohol was involved, Stokley had sufficient recall and understanding of the events the next day.

The trial court found three statutory aggravating circumstances for both murders:

• Victim under age fifteen
• Multiple homicides
• Especially heinous, cruel or depraved

The court rejected all claimed mitigating circumstances offered by Stokley, including law-abiding past, cooperation with police, alcohol use, prior head injuries, and co-defendant Brazeal’s twenty-year sentence. The court also expressly stated it was unable to find any other mitigating circumstances not expressly offered by defense counsel.

Sentencing

Stokley was sentenced to death for both murders on July 14, 1992.

At sentencing, the court found three statutory aggravating circumstances for both murders:

• Victim under age fifteen
• Multiple homicides

The court rejected mitigating circumstances offered by Stokley, including cooperation with police, alcohol use, prior head injuries, and co-defendant Brazeal’s twenty-year sentence. The trial court also stated it could not find any other mitigating circumstances not suggested by defense counsel.

Appeals

Direct appeal (Arizona Supreme Court)

State v. Stokley, 182 Ariz. 505, 898 P.2d 454 (1995) affirmed the convictions and sentences.

In the direct appeal, the Supreme Court addressed issues including:

• Whether pretrial publicity warranted a change of venue
• Whether autopsy photographs were admissible
• Whether the death penalty statute was unconstitutional
• Whether murders were especially heinous, cruel, and depraved
• Whether Stokley failed to show his ability to control his actions was significantly impaired by alcohol, prior head injuries, or mental disorders
• Whether nonstatutory mitigating circumstances warranted overturning the death sentence

The court affirmed the convictions and sentences.

Federal habeas proceedings (9th Circuit)

Stokley challenged the death sentence under 28 U.S.C. § 2254, arguing he should receive an evidentiary hearing to develop a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel at sentencing by failing adequately to investigate and present evidence of organic brain damage.

The Court of Appeals held that Stokley was not entitled to an evidentiary hearing and affirmed the district court’s denial of relief. The decision stated that counsel undertook an extensive investigation into Stokley’s mental health and did not fall below an objective standard of reasonableness.

Outcome

Stokley was executed by lethal injection on December 5, 2012. He was pronounced dead at 11:12 a.m. MDT in the state prison in Florence.

His last meal request included:

• Porterhouse steak
• French fries
• Fried okra
• Salad with blue cheese dressing
• Wedge of cheddar cheese
• Biscuits
• One apple
• One Peach
• One Banana
• Cream Soda
• Chocolate ice cream

Stokley had no final words at the time he was asked if he had any final words in one account, he responded: “Nah.”

Statements by others at the time of execution

Patty Hancock said: “He was a coward from the beginning and he died a coward,” and also said: “He never looked at us.”

Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne said: “One can only imagine the terrible pain the families of these victims have endured for more than 21 years since these brutal crimes were committed.” “My hope is now that the sentence has been carried out, they will find some measure of peace,” he added.

Aftermath

Randy Brazeal had confessed to second-degree murder under a plea deal and served 20 years in prison before being released last year prior to Stokley’s execution.

Patty Hancock refused to buy new Christmas stockings for her children because they would not match the one that belonged to her slain daughter, Mandy, and later stated she was ready to begin a new phase in her life after the execution. Dennis Hancock said: “We'll finally have a holiday where we don't have someone on death row or in prison,” and also said: “I hope it will be a joyous one, but there will always be someone missing.”

Mary’s sister, Elisha Gonzales, broke down when recounting milestones her sister never got to experience. She said Stokley’s execution was a “long time in coming” and that now there would hopefully be a time of healing and peace.

Timeline

• July 7, 1991 — Mandy Meyers and Mary Snyder camped out at the celebration site near Elfrida; Stokley attended to work as a stunt man in Old West reenactments.
• Around 1:00 a.m. on July 8, 1991 — The girls told a friend they were going to the restroom and they never returned.
• July 8, 1991 — Brazeal surrendered himself and his car to police in Chandler, Arizona; Stokley called for pickup in Benson, Arizona and denied knowing “any girls.”
• After being arrested (same day as July 8, 1991) — Stokley was arrested in Benson and police questioned him after reading Miranda rights.
• March 12, 1992 — Start of trial.
• March 27, 1992 — Verdict.
• July 14, 1992 — Sentencing to death.
• Dec 5, 2012 — Stokley was executed by lethal injection at 11:12 a.m. MDT in Florence.

Other details

Inmate information and sentence record details

Stokley was held as: STOKLEY RICHARD D DOC#: 092408. His date of birth was 09/09/1952. Gender was male. Height was 77". Weight was 230. Hair color was brown. Eye color was brown. Ethnic was Caucasian.

Sentence recorded included:

• DEATH
• Crimes Ag Child (25 years)
• Admission: 07/16/92
• Conviction imposed: MURDER 1ST DEGREE (DEATH), MURDER 1ST DEGREE (DEATH), Crimes Ag Child (25 years)
• County: Cochise
• Case#: 9100284
• Date of Offense: 07/08/1991

Victim details

The victims were Mandy Meyers and Mary Snyder, both 13-year-old girls.

Court information from published opinion narrative

The opinion noted that in published version the victims’ last names were not used. The opinion described that the trial was conducted in the Superior Court, Cochise County, No. CR–91–00284A, with Matthew W. Borowiec, J.

Quotes connected to sentencing and appeals

In the sentencing-phase narrative, Stokley made statements about culpability and premeditation before sentencing: “What I am guilty of is being an irresponsible person for most of my life, running from responsibility, living in a fantasy world and it was my irresponsibility on the night that this incident occurred that involved me in the incident. ... There is no words that can express the grief and the sorrow and the torment I have experienced over this, but I am just going to leave everything in the hands of God because that's where it is anyway.”

The direct-appeal narrative included Stokley’s statement to police during the interview: “I ... choked 'em.... They just wouldn't quit. It was terrible.”

The case narrative also included an attributed statement to police connected to the disposal and expectation of execution: “get the needle and get it over with.”