Overview

• Aaron Gunches was executed by lethal injection on March 19, 2025, marking Arizona's first execution in over two years after a moratorium was lifted.
• Gunches had pleaded guilty to the 2002 murder of Ted Price and consistently waived legal appeals, requesting to expedite his execution.
• The case reignited scrutiny of Arizona's death penalty system, which faced past issues with botched executions and concerns over drug handling and transparency.
• Ted Price, described by his family as a kind and caring man, was killed after an argument with his ex-girlfriend escalated, leading to Gunches' involvement.
• Price's family expressed mixed reactions, with some seeking closure through the execution and others believing prolonged imprisonment would have been a harsher punishment.