On April 6, 1992, Chad Lee and 14-year-old David Hunt kidnapped Linda Reynolds, a Pizza Hut delivery person, from a vacant house.

They forced her to remove her clothing in the backyard. Lee and Hunt drove her out to the desert area of Camelback and 115th Avenue. They destroyed her car, sexually assaulted her, and robbed her.

Lee and Hunt then drove her to the First Interstate Bank at 83rd Avenue and Indian School, where they forced her to withdraw $20 from the automatic teller machine.

They then drove her back to the desert area. Lee shot Linda in the head. However, because Linda was still alive, Lee stabbed her twice in the chest, perforating her heart and lung.

On April 15, 1992, Lee and Hunt robbed and murdered David Lacey, a Metro Taxi Cab driver. Lee shot David Lacey four times, and dumped his body. Lee and Hunt abandoned the cab in another location.

PROCEEDINGS

    Presiding Judge:  Ronald S. Reinstein
    Prosecutor: Al Fenzel
    Start of Trial: March 9, 1994
    Verdict: March 24, 1994
    Sentencing: June 23, 1994

Aggravating Circumstances:

    Prior conviction for a capital crime
    Prior conviction involving violence
    Pecuniary gain Especially heinous, cruel and depraved (Linda Reynolds)
    Especially depraved (David Lacey)

Mitigating Circumstances:

    Age
    Lack of significant criminal history
    Deprived childhood
    Cooperation with police and assistance in recovery of the weapons and other evidence
    Expression of remorse

PUBLISHED OPINIONS

State v. Lee (1), 189 Ariz. 590, 944 P.2d 1204 (1997).

*****

On April 27, 1992, at 1:00 a.m., Chad Lee entered the AM-PM mini-market on 19th Avenue, in Phoenix, with the intent to rob store and leave no witnesses.

Lee pulled a gun on the clerk, Harold Drury, and demanded money. Lee pulled out the entire cash drawer, instead of the cash, to prevent the surveillance camera from activating. Lee shot Drury multiple times. Lee then dismantled the revolver and threw it in a dumpster across the street from the market.