News / FJP Releases
FJP Statement on Tomorrow’s Scheduled Execution of Aaron Gunches
March 18, 2025 (Arizona) — Fair and Just Prosecution (FJP) condemns the upcoming execution of Aaron Gunches in Arizona, who is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection on Wednesday, March 19th at 10 A.M. PST. Arizona’s lethal injection protocols have long been criticized for their injustice, marked by secrecy, botched executions, and a disregard for civil rights.
Acting Co-Executive Director Amy Fettig issued the following statement ahead of Arizona’s planned execution of Aaron Gunches tomorrow:
“Barring last-minute intervention, tomorrow morning the state of Arizona will execute Mr. Gunches by lethal injection. Arizona has a history of botched executions, illegal drug sourcing, and reckless disregard for human rights. No state government should have the power to carry out executions in such a cruel and unconstitutional way, yet under the new Trump Administration, Arizona state officials feel they can do so with impunity. This is not just a failure of justice—it’s a moral outrage.
“Mr. Gunches’ decision to volunteer for execution does not lessen Arizona’s obligation to follow the Eighth Amendment, yet Arizona is continuing to proceed in this case despite its disturbing recent history. Our thoughts are with the loved ones of both Aaron Gunches and his victim, Ted Price.”
BACKGROUND
Arizona halted executions in 2022 following a series of botched lethal injections, including the execution of Joseph Woods in 2014. Mr. Wood was heard audibly gasping for air for nearly two hours before dying. Arizona also has a troubling history of avoiding transparency with its procurement process for lethal injection drugs – something numerous legal critics have raised ethical and legal concerns about. Arizona made at least one attempt to illegally import foreign drugs, which the first Trump Administration blocked over concerns the drugs were coming from a questionable company in India. Additionally, Arizona’s execution procedures have been criticized for last-minute changes and violations of protocols, often without adequate oversight or public scrutiny.
In response, Governor Katie Hobbs imposed a statewide moratorium on executions in 2022 to allow for a comprehensive investigation into the state’s lethal injection protocol. However, after conducting only an internal review, she lifted the moratorium in November 2024, permitting executions to resume.
Throughout his case, Mr. Gunches waived his legal rights to appeal and sought his own execution. According to research from the Death Penalty Information Center, 87% of individuals who have voluntarily chosen to be executed over the past fifty years struggled with mental illness such as PTSD, substance abuse, or both. Court records indicate that the trial judge expressed “concerns that Gunches was not trying to avoid the death penalty.”