Janell Mora was a 40-year-old mother of two boys who had earned master’s degrees in both education and business. A White woman, she worked for Arizona State University as an associate director for international student professional development. In 2017, she married Stephen Mora, a Scottsdale Realtor, in what seemed to be a fairytale romance. Within a few years, however, the marriage had deteriorated.
In early September 2020, Janell separated from her husband, citing his cocaine addiction, use of escort services, and his possession of a .38 revolver. Fearing for her safety, she took her sons and moved into a friend’s home in East Mesa, keeping her location a secret from Stephen. She had filed for divorce and scheduled a meeting with him for the end of September to discuss an amicable end to their marriage.
On the evening of September 26, 2020, Janell was out for a jog near Power Road and the Loop 202 in Mesa. Stephen Mora, who had managed to track her down, was stalking her. When Janell saw him, she frantically ran to a passing car for help, pleading with the driver, “Help me. He’s got a gun.” Moments later, witnesses saw Stephen jump out of his silver Mercedes, chase her down, and shoot her with a revolver. One witness reported seeing a man crouching over her body, while another saw the Mercedes strike her as she lay in the road. Several citizens rushed to help and performed CPR, but Janell was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy later confirmed she died from a gunshot wound and had also suffered internal injuries consistent with being struck by a vehicle.
After the shooting, Stephen fled. He called his father and then police, telling a 911 operator that he had shot his wife and was planning to kill himself. He drove to the Mesa Police Department headquarters, parked his car in the public lot, and shot himself in the face. Officers heard the gunshot and found Stephen exiting his vehicle, covered in blood. He survived the self-inflicted wound and was taken to a hospital for treatment.
After recovering from his injuries, Stephen Joseph Mora was arrested in late October 2020. He was booked into jail and charged with second-degree murder in connection with the domestic violence killing of his wife. A judge set his bond at $1 million.
To avoid a potential life sentence at trial, Stephen Mora later accepted a plea agreement with prosecutors. He pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. The case concluded in September 2022, when he was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
