Arizona executes Aaron Gunches for murder after over two years on death row
- Aaron Gunches was executed on March 20, 2025, at the Arizona State Prison Complex-Florence.
- He had been on death row for over two years following his 2008 conviction for first-degree murder and kidnapping.
- The execution marked a significant moment in Arizona's use of the death penalty, highlighting ongoing discussions about capital punishment.
In Arizona, Aaron Gunches was executed by lethal injection on March 20, 2025, marking the state’s first use of the death penalty in over two years. Gunches, 53, had pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and kidnapping in connection with the shooting death of Ted Price in 2002. Price was shot four times in an isolated area in the Arizona desert after a confrontation regarding his ex-wife's drug use. Following his conviction, Gunches was sentenced to death in 2008, and despite multiple reviews and a postponed execution date, his execution was eventually carried out as planned despite his previous withdrawal of a request for execution. Gunches tried to expedite the execution process, describing his death sentence as long overdue, which was finally realized after multiple legal hurdles had been addressed. His execution was preceded by concerns regarding the method of execution, particularly the use of pentobarbital, which has been criticized for its potential to cause suffering. The execution was carried out without any final statement from Gunches, completing a process that had drawn significant attention over the years as part of discussions surrounding capital punishment in the United States. For more than two decades, the case had impacted the lives of many, including the victim’s family who sought justice and closure following the brutal crime.