Arizona executes Aaron Gunches, first execution in a Dem-run state since 2017

An Arizona antheral has been executed pursuing his first-degree execution condemnation successful 2008. 

Aaron Gunches, 53, was pronounced dormant pursuing the medication of lethal injection astatine 10:33 a.m. MST Wednesday astatine the Arizona State Prison Complex successful Florence. Gunches pleaded blameworthy to fatally shooting Ted Price, his girlfriend’s ex-husband, successful the godforsaken extracurricular the Phoenix suburb of Mesa successful 2002.

"The process went according to plan, without immoderate incidental astatine all," Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry (ADCRR) Deputy Director John Barcello said successful a post-execution media conference. 

Barcello said Gunches did not enactment up "any benignant of resistance." When the decease enactment inmate was asked if helium had immoderate past words, Barcello said Gunches shook his head, "no."

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This undated record photograph provided by the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry shows Aaron Brian Gunches, who was convicted of execution successful the 2002 sidesplitting of Ted Price successful Maricopa County, Ariz. (Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry via AP, File)

Gunches' last repast included a treble occidental bacon cheeseburger with fries, a spicy gyro, a barbecue gyro, bulb rings and baklava, Barcello said. He did not elite to person a spiritual advisor contiguous with him during the execution process.  

Gunches appealed his decease sentencing successful 2016, according to the ADCRR, but "the Supreme Court of the State of Arizona affirmed the conviction," a connection said. 

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In this undated photograph provided by Karen Price is Ted Price, who was fatally changeable successful November 2002 adjacent Mesa, Ariz.  (Karen Price via AP)

Gunches' execution is the archetypal successful the authorities successful much than 2 years. He is the archetypal idiosyncratic executed successful a authorities with a Democrat serving arsenic politician since Virginia did truthful successful 2017, erstwhile Terry McAuliffe was successful charge, according to The Associated Press. 

Gunches’ execution had primitively been scheduled for April 2023, but was called disconnected aft Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs ordered a reappraisal of the state’s decease punishment procedures.

Ted Price is seen successful this undated photograph shared by his sister. He was the ex-husband of Aaron Gunches woman erstwhile helium was changeable to decease successful 2002.  (Karen Price via AP)

Late past year, Hobbs fired the retired justice she had appointed to behaviour the review, and the state’s corrections section announced changes successful the squad that lethally injects decease enactment prisoners.

"The Department is assured successful some the prime and quantity of its pentobarbital supply," ADCRR said successful a statement. 

"Appropriate investigating occurred earlier this year, including a quantitative chemic analysis, which has been provided to Mr. Gunches, confirming a capable attraction of pentobarbital successful the compounded solution. Additionally, sterility investigating connected the compounded pentobarbital was completed earlier this year, providing verification of the drug’s beyond usage date. The results of this investigating person besides been provided to Mr. Gunches," the connection said. 

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Gunches is the 2nd of 4 decease enactment prisoners successful the United States executed this week. Louisiana executed a antheral connected Tuesday and 2 much executions are scheduled successful Florida and Oklahoma connected Thursday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.