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James Erin
McKINNEY
Classification: Murderer
Characteristics:
Robberies
Number of victims: 2
Date of murders: March 10/23, 1991
Date of birth: June
4,
1967
Victims profile: Christine Mertens,
40 / James McClain, 65
Method of murder:
Shooting
Location: Maricopa County, Arizona, USA
Status: Sentenced to death on July 23, 1993
Date of Birth: June 4,
1967
Defendant: Caucasian
Victim: Caucasian
On March 10, 1991, McKinney and
his half-brother, Chutes Michael Hedlund, brutally beat and shot 40-year-old
Christine Mertens in her home, during the commission of a burglary.
Mrs. Mertens' son found his
mother dead, lying face down on the living room floor. McKinney and
Hedlund had ransacked Mrs. Mertens' bedroom and rifled through her purse.
On March 23, 1991, McKinney and
Hedlund burglarized the home of 65-year-old James McClain and shot him
in the head while he was asleep in his bed. McKinney and Hedlund
ransacked Mr. McClain's home and stole personal property, including
several guns.
McKinney was convicted of first-degree
murder and sentenced to death for the murders of Mrs. Mertens and Mr.
McClain. In addition, McKinney was convicted of two counts of burglary
in the first degree, and one count of theft.
PROCEEDINGS
Presiding Judge: Steven D. Sheldon
Prosecutor: Louis Stalzer
Start of Trial: October 13, 1992
Verdict: November 12, 1992
Sentencing: July 23, 1993
Aggravating Circumstances:
Prior conviction for which life imprisonment or death was imposable
Pecuniary gain
Especially cruel, heinous, or depraved
Mitigating Circumstances:
Traumatic childhood
PUBLISHED
OPINIONS
Hedlund v. Sheldon, 173 Ariz. 143, 840 P.2d 1008 (1992).
Same v. McKinney, 195 Ariz. 567, 917 P.2d 1214 (1996).
