In the spring of 1988, a grim discovery on the outskirts of Tucson, Arizona, began to unravel a story of brutal violence that had claimed the lives of a mother and her teenage daughter. The charred remains of a Porsche, later identified as belonging to 40-year-old Lili Fiello Champagne, were found abandoned, leading law enforcement to her home. What they found there was a scene of tragedy; both Lili and her 17-year-old daughter, Melinda 'Mindy' Peters, were dead, having been shot.
The
investigation into the double homicide gained momentum when a crucial tip came from an unexpected source: the sister of one of the perpetrators. She informed detectives that her brother, Richard Harley Greenway, had knowledge of the killings. This information led police to Greenway, who was 19 at the time, and his accomplice, Christopher Lincoln, a juvenile. The investigation revealed that the two had broken into the Champagne-Peters residence with the intent to commit a robbery.
During the burglary, Lili and Mindy were tragically killed. It was later reported that Greenway had confessed to an inmate that he shot the women because they had seen his face. The duo stole several items from the home, including Lili's Porsche, which they later set on fire in an attempt to destroy evidence.
Both Greenway and Lincoln were arrested and charged with the murders, burglary, robbery, and arson. Lincoln, being a juvenile, was tried as an adult and ultimately received two concurrent life sentences for his role in the crimes. Richard Harley Greenway faced a stiffer penalty. He was convicted on all counts, including two counts of first-degree murder. The court found aggravating factors in the commission of the crime, specifically that the murders were committed for financial gain and were especially heinous. Consequently, Richard Harley Greenway was sentenced to death for the murders of Lili Fiello and Mindy Peters.
