In the summer of 1983, a Scottsdale, Arizona man named Harold August, who was 66 years old, was brutally murdered in his home. He was known in his community for his business of buying, repairing, and selling typewriters, which he ran from his residence. This business also led him to keep a significant amount of cash in his house. On August 29, 1983, a man named Richard Michael Rossi planned to exploit this knowledge.
Rossi confided in a friend that he was going to August's home under the pretense of selling a typewriter, with the actual intention of killing him and stealing his money.
Around 12:30 p.m. that day, Rossi arrived at August's home and was led to the bedroom. There, he attacked August with a blackjack and then shot him twice in the chest. Despite August's pleas, Rossi proceeded to shoot him a third and final time in the mouth, ending his life. The gunshots were heard by a neighbor, who entered the home to check on August. When she encountered Rossi and asked where August was, he directed her to the back of the house. As she went to investigate, Rossi attacked her as well, striking her on the head and shooting her twice in the chest. Rossi then fled the scene, leaving the neighbor for dead; however, she miraculously survived the assault.
Later that same day, Rossi was arrested by the authorities. His downfall was swift, aided by the testimony of his neighbor who, despite her injuries, was able to identify him from a photo lineup. Further evidence against him included three spent bullets he had given to a friend as 'souvenirs' after the murder. Following a jury trial, Richard Michael Rossi was convicted of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and first-degree burglary. He was initially sentenced to death on June 25, 1984. After a series of resentencing hearings, Rossi remained on death row and ultimately died on April 22, 2006, while incarcerated at the Arizona State Prison Complex hospital in Florence, Arizona.
