Just this week, it was announced death row inmate Frank Jarvis Atwood had exhausted his appeals. The Arizona attorney general is now seeking an
execution warrant.
And also just a few days ago, it was announced that Christopher Clements accused of killing two young Tucson girls
will not be facing the death penalty.
Two cases, 30 years apart. And there are similarities.
Frank Jarvis Atwood was convicted of killing 8-year-old Vicki Lynne Hoskinson in 1984. Christopher Clements accused of killing 6-year-old Isabel Celis in 2012 and 13-year-old Maribel Gonzalez two years later.
After sitting on death row for more than 30 years, 64-year-old Atwood will be executed according to Arizona state law.
"Death penalty cases are extremely expensive," said retired prosecutor Rick Unklesbay.
Unklesbay who has 40 years experience just recently retired from the Pima County Attorney's Office.
He tried 20 death penalty cases and witnessed some executions.
On average, death penalty cases in Arizona cost from $3 to 4 million per inmate, according to Unklesbay. He added that is why the smaller counties are not seeking death penalty cases.
"Their budget just won't allow for a case to be designated as a death penalty case because of the expense to the taxpayers of the county," he said.
DIGGING DEEPER: Death penalty cases in Arizona cost $3 to $4 million per inmate, expert says
