December 3, 2002

MARICOPA COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT JURY RETURNS GUILTY VERDICT IN "COP KILLER" CASE

(Phoenix, AZ) - Attorney General Janet Napolitano today announced a trial jury in Maricopa County has returned a nine-count guilty verdict in the case of Rudy Romero, who was charged in connection with the 1988 killing of Phoenix Police Officer Ken Collings. Romero fled to Mexico shortly after Collings' death but was apprehended in the summer of 2000 in southern Mexico, then returned to Arizona to stand trial in March of this year. Romero was found guilty on charges of first-degree murder, burglary, armed robbery, aggravated assault and attempted armed robbery.

The case was prosecuted by the Arizona Attorney General's Office, with assistance from the Phoenix Police Department, the FBI, the Attorney General for the Republic of Mexico, and the Mexican Federal Agency of Investigation.

"We had promised our law enforcement officers that we would find Mr. Romero and have him stand trial," said Napolitano. "This demonstrates our tireless efforts to ensure that suspects in serious crimes are brought to justice."

Officer Collings was working off-duty security at a Phoenix Valley National Bank branch in central Phoenix when Romero and another suspect, Ismael Conde, robbed the bank. Collings was shot and killed when he tried to catch the two men. Conde was caught after the robbery and is currently serving a life sentence in State prison. Romero faces a term of up to life in prison when he is sentenced on January 17, 2003.