In the winter of 1999, a violent incident cut short the life of Lance Rush in Phoenix, Arizona. On December 1st of that year, Rush, along with Ellen Franco, was fatally shot. The events unfolded at a house in Waddell, where Franco had recently moved in with Rush and his girlfriend, Jennifer Farley, after separating from her husband.
The tranquility of the home was shattered when someone kicked in the door and began shooting.
Farley, who was present during the home invasion, hid in a bedroom closet. After the gunfire ceased, she emerged to a horrific scene. She discovered Franco lying in a pool of blood in the living room and found a conscious but bleeding Rush in a guest bedroom. Before succumbing to his injuries, Rush was able to tell paramedics that 'Someone kicked the door and started shooting.'. Both Rush and Franco ultimately died from their wounds.
The investigation into the double homicide led to the arrest and eventual conviction of a man named Garza. A jury found Garza guilty of two counts of first-degree murder for the shooting deaths of both Lance Rush and Ellen Franco. For the murder of Rush, Garza was sentenced to death. He was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole for the murder of Ellen Franco. At the trial, Garza's defense unsuccessfully attempted to place the blame on Larry Franco, Ellen's estranged husband.
