PHOENIX— Last week Andrew Ward (D.O.B. 01/19/1987) plead guilty to two counts of 1st Degree Murder in two separate cases, one involving the death of his 12-year-old half-brother and Douglas Walker, his 33-year-old jail cellmate. Documentation surrounding the defendant’s prior mental history merited a review of whether to continue seeking the death penalty and supported this resolution.
“This plea ensures that the defendant will not be a danger to others in our community,” said Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery. “After displaying a shocking lack of regard for human life and proving to be a threat to those around him, we sought a resolution that would keep the defendant from ever posing a similar threat to others again.”
On March 12, 2014 police officers responded to a North Phoenix home where the 12-year-old victim had been stabbed to death. Ward was found by officers at a nearby convince store where he told officers he had killed someone. He later told investigators the reason for the murder was that he felt like killing.
Three weeks later on April 2, 2014 detention officers found Ward’s cellmate, Douglas Walker, dead in their shared cell with obvious signs of injuries. Ward admitted to investigators he had killed Walker.
The plea agreement in both cases renders Ward eligible for consecutive natural life sentences. Sentencing for both cases is set for September 29, 2017.