PHOENIX, AZ (November 30, 2011) – A Maricopa County Jury today sentenced Mark Goudeau to death for nine murders committed during a nearly year-long crime spree that also involved multiple kidnappings, armed robberies and violent assaults. The sentences were immediately entered by Judge Warren Granville and Goudeau was remanded to the custody of the Maricopa County Sheriff.
“A terrible scourge on our community has now been held accountable for his crimes,” said Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery. “I appreciate the diligent work of this jury and the time they have devoted to hear the case and arrive at a verdict. It is now the charge of the criminal justice system to see that the sentences for death are carried out as expeditiously as possible. I am especially proud of Phoenix Police Department as well as the paralegals, support staff and of course the prosecutors of the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office who worked on this case. The people of Maricopa County have been well served by their dedication in the pursuit of justice,” he added.
On January 16, 2007, Mark Goudeau was indicted for 74 felony offenses, including nine homicides, numerous sexual crimes against adult and juvenile females, multiple aggravated assaults and twelve armed robberies. Two of the charges were later dropped. The alleged crimes involved 33 victims in 13 separate attacks in the Phoenix metropolitan area between August 6, 2005 and June 29, 2006. All nine homicides are charged as First Degree Murder.
On October 31, 2011, after seven days of deliberations, the jury found Goudeau guilty on 67 felony charges including nine counts of First Degree Murder. He was found not guilty on one count of armed robbery, two counts of attempted armed robbery and one count of kidnapping. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on one count of sexual abuse.
Prior to the current indictment, Goudeau was tried and convicted in September 2007 for 19 offenses against two female victims including sexual assault, sexual abuse, kidnapping and aggravated assault. He was sentenced to serve 428 years in the Arizona Department of Corrections for these crimes. Goudeau’s conviction and sentence were upheld on appeal. His petition for Post-Conviction Relief was dismissed last month.
Mark Goudeau is scheduled to be sentenced on the non-capital charges by Judge Granville on Monday, December 5th, 2011 at 10:30am.
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