Date of Birth: December 7, 1968
Defendant: American Indian
Victim:  Caucasian

Around 6:00 a.m. on December 6, 1987, Running Eagle, Corey Tilden, and Orva Antone were burglarizing the Robert Davis residence in Phoenix.

Davis' neighbor, 72-year-old Herbert Williams, came outside and told the men to leave or he would call the police.

Running Eagle began to tease and threaten Mr. Williams with a large hunting knife. Mr. Williams' wife, Jacqueline, then came outside and began yelling. Tilden hit Mrs. Williams over the head with a large flashlight.

Running Eagle and Tilden then forced their way into the Williams' home, and beat and stabbed them both to death.

Mr. Williams was stabbed five times in the chest, arm, pelvis and back. Mrs. Williams was stabbed four times in the chest and abdomen and her throat was cut.

Running Eagle and Tilden were tried jointly. Antone pled guilty to second-degree burglary and testified against Running Eagle and Tilden.

Running Eagle and Tilden were both convicted of two counts of first-degree murder; Tilden received two life sentences.

PROCEEDINGS

    Presiding Judge: Gloria G. Ybarra
    Prosecutor: Paul Abler
    Start of Trial: June 21, 1988
    Verdict: July 27, 1988
    Sentencing: February 3, 1989

Aggravating Circumstances:

    Pecuniary gain
    Especially heinous/cruel/depraved
    Multiple homicides

Mitigating Circumstances:

    None sufficient to call for leniency

PUBLISHED OPINIONS

    State v. Runningeagle, 176 Ariz. 59, 859 P.2d 169 (1993).

  

Sean Bernard Running Eagle