In the winter of 1992, the life of 38-year-old Jeanette Beaulieu, a resident of Phoenix, Arizona, came to a tragic and violent end. Believing she was embarking on a trip with her long-distance boyfriend, Anthony Spears, who lived near San Diego, California, Jeanette prepared for their time together. She had her 1984 Dodge Rampage truck serviced and took a leave of absence from her job. On January 2, 1992, she welcomed Spears to Phoenix after purchasing a one-way plane ticket for him.
In the days that followed, Jeanette made a series of financial transactions, including withdrawing $1,700 and obtaining a $500 cash advance. She also had the title of her truck notarized.
Unbeknownst to Jeanette, Spears was leading a double life and was cohabitating with another woman in California. His intentions were far from romantic. On January 4, 1992, Spears drove back to California in Jeanette's truck, taking with him her five guns, two sleeping bags, and nearly $1,000 in cash. He falsely told his other girlfriend that he had purchased the truck from an elderly couple. On January 19, 1992, Jeanette's body was discovered in a desert area in Maricopa County. She had been fatally shot in the back of the head.
The investigation into Jeanette's murder quickly led authorities to Anthony Spears. A receipt for the plane ticket she had purchased for him was found in her home. This crucial piece of evidence pointed them toward Spears, who was located and arrested in California on January 25, 1992, while he was driving Jeanette's truck. A 9mm shell casing found near her body was later identified as having been fired from Spears' handgun.
Anthony Spears was charged with first-degree murder and theft. During his trial, the prosecution presented a compelling case that his motive was financial gain. The jury found him guilty of both charges. On March 31, 1993, Anthony Spears was sentenced to death for the murder of Jeanette Beaulieu. He was also sentenced to a concurrent four-year prison term for the theft.
