Murders of William Redmond and Helen Phelps
1980 double murder in Phoenix, Arizona
On December 31, 1980, William Patrick "Pat" Redmond and his mother-in-law Helen Genevieve Phelps were murdered at Redmond's home in Phoenix, Arizona. Three men knocked on the door of Redmond's home holding a gun and ordered Redmond, Phelps, and Redmond's wife, Marilyn, to a bedroom, where they were forced to lie down as their hands were bound. William was then fatally shot in the back of the head along with Phelps. Marilyn was also shot in the back of the head, but survived.
Phoenix police initially believed the murders were the result of a home invasion and suggested robbery was the motive, as some jewelry and cash were taken. However, when Edward Lonzo McCall Jr., a former police officer, was arrested in connection with the murders, reports suggested the murders were the result of a murder-for-hire scheme and that the murders were contract killings. Marilyn identified the three killers as McCall, William Bracy, and Murray Hooper. Prosecutors accused Robert Charles Cruz, a Tempe businessman, as being the mastermind of the plot, whom they said was planning to take over a printing business owned by William Redmond and his business partner Ron Lukezic. Lukezic's wife, Joyce, was also accused of being involved in the conspiracy.
Cruz was convicted and sentenced to death for allegedly ordering the murders but was later acquitted during his fifth trial.
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