Bio

George Russell Kayer Sr. was born on August 20, 1954 in the United States. By late 1994, Kayer was in a relationship with Lisa Dawn Kester. He borrowed money from his friend Delbert Haas so he could gamble in Laughlin, Nevada. Kester traveled with Kayer and Haas. Kayer lost his money gambling but told Haas that he had won a large amount and that the winnings had been stolen. Before returning to Arizona, Kayer told Kester that they were going to rob Haas and kill him. He armed himself with a handgun before the group left Nevada.

Murder Story

On December 2, 1994, George Russell Kayer Sr., Lisa Dawn Kester, and Delbert L. Haas were traveling back toward Arizona after a gambling trip to Laughlin, Nevada. Kayer had lost money while gambling and wanted to rob Haas.

During the trip, the group stopped in Kingman, Arizona, where Kayer obtained beer and armed himself with a handgun. Later, they left the interstate and drove into a wooded area after Haas needed to relieve himself. Kayer stopped Kester from leaving the vehicle, got out of the van, and shot Haas in the back of the head.

Kayer returned to the van with Haas’s wallet, watch, and jewelry. After driving a short distance, he realized he had not taken Haas’s keys. He and Kester returned to the scene. Kayer checked Haas’s body and said Haas was not dead. He then got the gun again and shot Haas a second time in the head, killing him.

After taking Haas’s keys, Kayer and Kester went to Haas’s home in Spring Valley, Arizona. Kayer stole guns, a camera, jewelry, and other property. They later returned to Nevada. About 10 days after the murder, Kester reported the killing to authorities. She said she became upset because Kayer was gambling away the stolen money. When she confronted him, he reportedly told her, “You sometimes have to kill people to survive.”

Kayer was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and related crimes. His trial began on March 5, 1997, and the jury returned guilty verdicts on March 26, 1997. He was convicted of first-degree murder, trafficking in stolen property, and theft of a firearm. The Arizona Supreme Court later affirmed that the murder was committed for pecuniary gain.

On July 17, 1997, Judge William T. Kiger sentenced Kayer to death. The Arizona Supreme Court affirmed his conviction and death sentence on December 15, 1999.

Kayer later challenged his death sentence in federal court, arguing that his trial lawyers failed to properly investigate and present evidence of mental illness and substance abuse. In 2019, the Ninth Circuit granted relief and ordered a new sentencing proceeding, but the U.S. Supreme Court reversed that decision on December 14, 2020, reinstating the death sentence.

Kayer’s later petition for review was denied by the U.S. Supreme Court on March 21, 2022. George Russell Kayer Sr. remains imprisoned on Arizona death row, awaiting execution.