Bio

Eric Owen Mann was born on April 26, 1961. 

Murder Story

On the night of November 23, 1989, Eric Owen Mann planned to rob his friend Richard Alberts during a drug deal. Alberts arrived at Mann's home in Pima County, Arizona, accompanied by Ramon Bazurto. Mann lured Alberts into his bedroom, claiming to sell a box containing cocaine. Instead, the box only held paper. When Alberts opened it, Mann shot him in the heart. Then, he shot Bazurto, who tried to reach for his own gun. Mann prevented Bazurto from defending himself by stepping on his hand. Bazurto took several minutes to die.

After the shooting, Mann and his girlfriend, Karen Miller, moved the bodies to Alberts' car. They later drove to Graham County, where they disposed of the bodies beside a rural roadway. To cover up the crime, Mann and Miller cleaned the bedroom and repainted it. The next day, on November 24, 1989, authorities discovered the bodies, but the case remained unsolved for several years.

In January 1994, after ending her relationship with Mann, Miller confessed to police about the murders. Her testimony, along with that of an accomplice, led to Mann's arrest. During his trial, the prosecution presented evidence of the murders along with testimony about the planning and cover-up. The jury found Mann guilty of first-degree murder.

At sentencing, the court found aggravating factors, including that the murders resulted from a motive for financial gain, as Mann intended to steal money from Alberts. Additionally, the judge concluded that Bazurto's murder was especially cruel. Mann was sentenced to death on February 1, 1995.