Richard Kenneth Djerf was born on November 6, 1969, in Phoenix, Arizona. He grew up in a typical suburban environment but often felt alone during his childhood. As he got older, he became known as a loner. Richard did not have many friends and preferred to spend time by himself.

He eventually found a job working as a night custodian at a Safeway supermarket. It was there that he met Albert Luna Jr. They became acquaintances through their work. However, their relationship would later turn sour. In January 1993, a significant event occurred that changed the course of Richard's life. Albert stole several valuable items from Richard’s apartment, including an AK-47 rifle. After this incident, Richard felt betrayed and angry.

Initially, Richard reported the theft to the police. However, he became frustrated with the lack of action taken by law enforcement. This frustration grew over time and led him to seek revenge personally against Albert.

On September 14, 1993, Richard Kenneth Djerf arrived at the Luna family's home in Arizona with flowers. He forced his way inside at gunpoint, holding five-year-old Damien Luna hostage. Djerf compelled Damien's mother, Patricia Luna, to load items from their home into his car. During this time, he threatened to kill either her or her son first and questioned her about her husband, Albert Luna Jr.

When their daughter, 18-year-old Rochelle Luna, came home around 3:00 PM, Djerf took her to her bedroom. He gagged her with tissue paper and tape. He then assaulted her and killed her by stabbing her in the throat. Afterward, Djerf informed Patricia that he had murdered Rochelle.

Later in the afternoon, Djerf forced Patricia and Damien to the kitchen as Albert Luna Sr. returned home. He was also taken at gunpoint into the bedroom. Djerf handcuffed him to the bed and attacked him with a baseball bat, believing him to be dead afterward. However, Albert Sr. regained consciousness and attempted to fight back using a pocket knife, which injured Djerf. In response, Djerf stabbed him and then shot him six times with a Beretta pistol.

He then confronted Patricia and Damien, asking Patricia if she wanted to see her son die or to watch her child die. Djerf shot both of them in the head at close range. Before leaving the scene, he spread gasoline on the bodies and around the house, igniting an unsuccessful attempt to set it on fire with a pizza box and rag.

Djerf stole the Luna family's car after the murders and met his girlfriend, claiming he had been attacked. The following day, when Albert Luna Jr. returned home and discovered the crime, he called the police. Djerf confessed the details of the murders to his girlfriend shortly afterward, describing the act as "really awesome."

Djerf was arrested on September 18, 1993, after witnesses reported his confessions. Police executed search warrants and found stolen items from the Luna home and the murder weapons in his possession.

In 1995, Djerf pled guilty to four counts of first-degree murder as part of a plea deal. He was sentenced to death in 1996. Over the years, he made several attempts to appeal his sentence, including claiming the right to represent himself in court. His appeals were ultimately unsuccessful, and by April 2021, he had exhausted all legal options. Djerf remains on death row at the Arizona State Prison Complex – Eyman.