In the winter of 1955 in Phoenix, Arizona, the life of Elnora Frances Hoople Coey, a 30-year-old woman, came to a tragic and violent end. On January 27th, Elnora was fatally shot, a final act in what was described as a troubled domestic life. At the time of her death, she was a mother to four children and the primary provider for her family, working diligently at a local aircraft plant.
The circumstances leading to her death began to unfold just hours after she had taken a decisive step
to change her life by serving her husband, Leonard John Coey Sr., with divorce papers. This action appeared to be the catalyst for the violence that followed. In the ensuing investigation, Leonard, a man described as a 'household tyrant,' was identified as the sole suspect in his wife's murder. He was subsequently arrested and charged with her death.
During his trial in Maricopa County Superior Court, Leonard Coey maintained that the shooting was an act of self-defense. However, the prosecution, led by County Attorney William J. Mahoney, painted a starkly different picture of the dynamic between the couple. They highlighted the significant size difference between Leonard and Elnora, who was described as being half his size, to counter his self-defense claim. The court also heard testimony regarding Leonard's character, with a psychiatrist describing him as a 'grossly warped personality who only sees faults in others.'
Ultimately, the jury found Leonard John Coey Sr. guilty of the murder of his wife. Judge Francis J. Donofrio sentenced him to death. Following his conviction, Coey was confined to death row, where he reportedly showed no remorse for his actions and objected to the appeals filed on his behalf. He was later executed, becoming the 28th person in Arizona to be put to death by lethal gas. His execution marked the final chapter in the tragic story of Elnora Hoople Coey's untimely death.
