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Arizona Executes Aaron Gunches for 2002 Murder Under Updated Protocols

The execution marked the state's first since 2022, concluding a 23-year legal process for the family of victim Ted Price.

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This undated file photo provided by the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry shows Aaron Brian Gunches, who was convicted of murder in the 2002 killing of Ted Price in Maricopa County, Arizona.
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Overview

  • Aaron Gunches, 53, was executed via lethal injection on March 19, 2025, for the 2002 murder of Ted Price in the Arizona desert.
  • Gunches had pleaded guilty in 2007 and repeatedly requested to expedite his execution, waiving his right to legal counsel during the trial.
  • The execution, described as smooth and incident-free, was carried out under Arizona's updated lethal injection protocols, addressing past procedural concerns.
  • Ted Price's family expressed relief that the decades-long legal process had concluded but noted their healing journey continues.
  • Arizona resumed executions in 2022 after an eight-year pause following a botched lethal injection, with Gunches being the first executed under Governor Katie Hobbs.