Florence, AZ: The state of Arizona executed Robert Comer, 50, on May 22nd. He killed a man at a campground in Arizona in 1987. He was put to death with a lethal injection.

 

ADDITIONAL DEATH PENALTY INFORMATION:

Phoenix, Ariz. * May 14, 2007: The United States Supreme Court today rejected further hearings concerning Jeffrey Landrigan's death sentence for the 1989 murder of Chester Dyer.  In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court reversed a U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decision that would have required an evidentiary hearing over the absence of  mitigating evidence at Landrigan's 1990 sentencing hearing.

Landrigan, 43, escaped in 1989 from an Oklahoma prison where he was serving prison terms for a 1982 murder and a 1986 prison stabbing.  Less than a month after his escape, Landrigan robbed and killed Dyer in Dyer's Phoenix apartment. 

During his sentencing hearing, Landrigan told the court he did not have any mitigating circumstances to present. Landrigan also repeatedly interrupted his lawyer's efforts to present information to portray Landrigan in a more favorable light. Landrigan even rebutted evidence his attorney attempted to present on his behalf.

Today's decision marked the third time this term that the U.S. Supreme Court has reversed rulings from the 9th Circuit to restore a death sentence or murder conviction. 

Kent Cattani, Chief Counsel of the Arizona Attorney General's Capital Litigation Section, argued the case on behalf of the State.

The decision by the US Supreme Court paves the way for the Arizona Supreme Court to set a date for his execution.

On December 15, 1989, Chester Dean Dyer was found dead in his apartment by co-worker, who went to his residence because they were concerned about his failure to appear for work. Mr. Dyer was found face down with an electrical cord at the front of his throat. The victim also had lacerations about his face and puncture wounds in the upper back. The victim's death was determined to have been caused by strangulation. Dyer had telephoned Michael Shaw at work on December 13, 1989, to let him know he had talked "Jeff" into coming to his apartment and was having sexual relations with Jeff. On December 20, 1989, the police arrested Landrigan on unrelated charges. Police later developed numerous items of evidence that tied Landrigan to the killing of Dyer.

The state is scheduled to execute Robert Comer, 50, on May 22nd. He killed a man at a campground in Arizona in 1987.