John Montenegro Cruz

Personal Information

 * Arizona State Inmate # 194940
 * Gender: Male
 * Ethnicity: Hispanic
 * Date of Birth: February 13, 1970
 * Family Information: Unknown
 * A.K.A. Unknown

Case Information

 * Pima County Superior Court Case #CR20031740
 * Date of Offense: May 26, 2003
 * Offense Location: Tucson, AZ
 * Victim: Officer Patrick Hardesty, Tucson Police Department, age 40, male

Criminal History Before Offense

 * Unknown

Crime Description

 * Officer Hardesty, an on-duty police officer, was investigating a hit-and-run traffic collision that Cruz was involved in. Cruz led Hardesty and another officer to a vehicle, supposedly to obtain identification for Cruz, who provided the officers with a false name. Cruz then ran from the officers; Hardesty chased on foot, while the other officer returned to the squad car to pursue Cruz. Hardesty's body was found a short time later. Hardesty had been shot five times, including shots to the abdomen and left eye, from point blank range.

Trial

 * Judge: Theodore Borek
 * Prosecutor: Rick Unklesbay and Thomas Weaver Jr.
 * Defense Attorney: Brick Storts III and David Basham


 * Trial commenced on January 19, 2005. After 4 hours of deliberations, the jury returned a verdict of guilty to the offense of First Degree Murder on February 25, 2005. Total trial length was 38 days. On March 10, 2005, Cruz was sentenced to death for the murder of Officer Hardesty.

Post Conviction Information

 * On April 21, 2008, the Arizona Supreme Court affirmed the conviction and sentence of death.

External Links and References

 * AZ Supreme Court Opinion
 * AZ Department of Corrections Death Row Information
 * AZ Department of Corrections Inmate Sheet
 * Tucson Citizen, "Az high court to review trial in '03 cop slaying", February 13, 2008