Following the highest profile murder case in recent Tucson history, leaving proscutors desperate for a conviction, Scott Nordstrom was convicted of 6 counts of first degree murder, based primarily on accusations by his brother David. In several search warrants as the case was breaking, lead detectives indicated that their primary suspects were David Nordstrom and his friend Robert (Red) Jones.

        On May 30th, 1996, two armed men entered a business in Tucson, immediately executed the lone customer, and shot two employees during the course of a robbery. One employee survived, and one escaped. Witnesses provided descriptions of the two men and their pickup. Composite drawings were distributed by police.

        Two weeks later, two armed men entered a private club, executed the three customers and killed the bartender in the course of a robbery. There were no witnesses. The same two guns were used and police concluded that the two crimes were commited by the same two men.

        There were no leads, no suspects, and not a clue as to who had commited these crimes, resulting in a huge public outcry and a media frenzy. The story was in the papers and on TV for weeks, repeatedly displaying the composite drawings and asking for any information from the public. Members of the victims families appeared on TV begging for any possible leads. Every lead called in was investigated, to no avail, and the reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the killers in the second crime grew to $30,000 by the end of the year.

        The first real break in the case occured in December when an anonymous caller to 88 crime told police he knew the killer in the second crime. Following several 'negotiations' with police, the caller revealed details about the crimes never released to the media, and offered to lead police to the guns used in the killings for $5,000 as an initial payment, indicating he wanted the full $30,000. That caller was David Nordstrom who had learned that  his partner, Red Jones was in jail in Phoenix charged with yet another murder during a home invasion robbery.

        Police met with David, were led to a muddy pond where he claimed the guns were thrown, gave him the promised $5,000 (momentarily), and arrested him for the murders. During a lengthy interrogation, during which David failed a lie detector test, he then started claiming that his older brother, Scott had told him that he and Jones had done the crimes.

        David stole the 380 handgun used in the crimes from an acquaintance, and told her he could not return it because in was at the bottom of a lake.

       David admits being with Robert Jones when the 9mm was stolen, minutes prior to the first murder-robbery.

        David was very concerned when the composit pictures were published and called Robert to come look at them.

        David admits throwing the guns into a pond after the second crime to destroy evidence.

        David recited every detail about the second crime as though he was there, but claimed Jones and Scott had told him.

The interesting statement in the transcripts about the first crime was. "Robert walked in and shot somebody first. (DET As soon as they walked in the door?) Yeah. And I, Scott shot
somebody and then they left." (The detectives 'corrected' the transcript by crossing out I and writing uh)The Jury never heard the tape.

        David was overheard by other inmates in jail praying for forgiveness and also bragging about getting away with killing all those people, and making a fool of the Prosecutor.

        Several inmates even wrote the prosecutor and reported these and other incriminating statements, but the jury was not allowed this information.

     My name is Scott Nordstrom. I am 32 years old, on death row in Florence Az.
I would like to tell you my story...my night-mare, really.

      Durning the period of my life when I had problems with drugs and alcohol I had several brushes with the law, all non-violent. I spent several years in jail for DUI convictions and a burglary.  When I was released in April 1996, I returned to Tucson with the firm conviction in my heart that I would make something of my life.  I had worked in the bakery in prison, and had a strong desire for a career in the culinary arts. To support schooling in that endeavor, I went to work in the construction field, renewed a relationship with a beautiful woman, and was working towards having a 'normal' life.

My younger brother David had just recently been released from jail also. He wasn't able to find work but through my contacts, I was able to get him work with me. Since he had no transportation, I would normally pick him up and take him home after work.

        Things were going good, life was good. Then on June 20th,1996 my brother David and I did a stupid thing. We let 2 of David's acquaintances lure us into an altercation that resulted in both of us being critically stabbed, and with me fighting for my life. Six weeks in ICU on life support and eight months on a feeding tube. I was looking forward to the surgery that would make me 'whole' again That was scheduled for Jan. 27th, 1997.

        Then on Jan. 17th 1997 my world as I knew it ended and the nightmare that my existance has been since began. During the night the swat team knocked down our door as I lay in bed hooked to my feeding tube--my lifeline, if you will. They barged in guns drawn and arrested me. At that point, I had not a clue what was happening. At the police station, after asking over and over what this was about I was finally informed that I was being charged with 6 counts of first degree murder. All I could say was that they had the wrong person, and because this was obiviously a very serious matter, I wanted to talk to a lawyer. The Detectives later used that request against me at the Grand Jury Hearing, stating that I had refused to talk to them.

        Then the story unfolds. During the time David worked with me, he introduced me to his friend Red Jones whom he had met in prison and had hooked up with after they were both released. In November of 1996, I got a letter from Jones asking me to get in touch with David for him. Jones stated that he was in jail in Phoenix and wanted David to go get his truck which he had left with another friend in Tucson. Jones also called me on the phone asking for Davids phone number, and revealed that he was in jail for murder. When I told David that, he got real quiet, and I didn't see much of him after that. That must have been when he started thinking of trying to collect the reward.

        After David was assigned a defense attorney who told him that the police had violated many of his rights, and had no real evidence against him that they could use to prosecute him, he got cocky, and stated that without him, the police had no case at all. They would have to give him what he wanted, or he would clam up. Up to this point, the lead detectives on the case had repeatedly stated that they were certain that David Nordstrom and Robert Jones were the perpetrators of these crimes, but now the case was in the hands of the County Prosecutor. All they had against David (or anyone else) was David's own Statements. The most serious of which was putting himself at the crime scene of the first murder-robbery as a driver, which could result in a charge of first degree felony murder in Arizona. The prosecutor then offered David a plea agreement to drop all murder charges, and a light sentence for armed robbery in return for his testimony against Robert Jones and his brother Scott. David had what he wanted, and agreed. The prosecutor had what he wanted--someoneto testify, giving him a sure conviction.

        Although the massive media coverage of this case severly prejudiced the jury pool, the judge refused a change of venue.

        The eye witness descriptions and composit drawing more closely resembled David than me at the time of these crimes, and the witnesses were unable to pick me out of a picture line-up. Under cross examination, one of the States witnesses who had know the Nordstrom Brothers for many years identified the composit drawing as David. Now is when the stabbing comes into play..I had lost about 70 lbs due to my injuries, I weighed 170 lbs  at the time of my arrest, not the 240 lbs I weighed at the time of the crimes.The prime eye witness saw me on TV at an arraignment hearing, and  decided that I was the person she had seen at the crime scene. Although my attorney strongly objected to that identification  since it was not based on what she had actually seen at the time of the crime, the judge allowed it.

        Even tho I had what looked like an air tight alibi for the evening of the first crime, the prosecutor managed to confuse the jury with cross examination of the witnesses who could place me elsewhere, and the jury discounted it.

                             IN CONCLUSION

        My case is currently in the appeal process to the Arizona Supreme Court by a court appointed attorney who does not answer my calls, and has not as yet shown me his written brief which was due in July. I'm desperate for help from anyone.

        My Appeal Opening Brief has been submitted to the AZ Supreme Court, citing seventeen (17) errors by the trial court.
I'm hopeful for a new trial and desperate for help in preparing my Defense.

        This is but a brief overview of my case. Anyone who is interested in any further information concerning my case can contact me at:

                                
        Scott Nordstrom 86114
        Arizona State Prison
        Eyman SMU II 3G-24
        PO Box 3400
        Florence AZ 85232

Or contact my Family:  ji7mncin@gilanet.com

 They have extensive records of my case.  They are waiting, ready and willing to assist anyone who might have an interest in my case. I would also welcome letters from anyone
who would like to write to me.  I am remaining hopeful.

Scott Nordstrom
 

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