Robert Lee Walden

Background

Robert Lee Walden was a Caucasian defendant. The victim was Hispanic.

The offence

On June 13, 1991, the victim’s husband returned home and found the victim’s body in their bedroom. The victim’s shoes, pants, and underwear had been removed. A lamp cord was still tied around her neck, and her throat had been cut. The room showed signs of a struggle, and an autopsy revealed numerous abrasions and bruises on the victim’s body. The autopsy also revealed sperm in the victim’s vagina and on her thigh.

In another account of the same case, Robert Walden broke into Lida Burhaus’s Tucson apartment, beat her with a lamp, raped her and tortured her, slashing her with a knife in the head, breasts and throat.

Investigation

Walden’s fingerprints matched those found at the victim’s residence and those found during the investigation of two other sexual assaults. Both surviving sexual assault victims positively identified Walden as their attacker. A witness observed Walden outside the victim’s apartment and identified him.

Trial

The proceedings listed:

• Presiding Judge: James Carruth
• Prosecutor: Rick Unklesbay and Sandra Hansen
• Start of Trial: July 9, 1992
• Verdict: July 31, 1992
• Sentencing: December 9, 1992

The aggravating circumstances included prior convictions for which a life sentence was imposable, a prior conviction involving the use or threat of violence, and especially cruel, heinous, and depraved circumstances. The mitigating circumstances were stated as none.

Published opinions included State v. Walden, 183 Ariz. 595, 905 P.2d 974 (1995).

Walden was condemned on one count in 1992, and he was sentenced to 28 years each on six other felony counts.

Sentencing

On December 9, 1992, Robert Lee Walden received a death sentence, listed as “#79171.”

Other details

Walden had previously been arrested for assault at least seven times. The murder weapon, DNA evidence, hair and fingerprints all linked Walden to the murder.