Sean Running Eagle
on Arizona Death Row

SEAN B. RUNNING EAGLE, a Native American, was attending college December 1987 when this tragedy occurred, changing his life forever. He was only 19 years old. During the interrogation RUNNING EAGLE was assaulted and brutalized by the detective as they attempted to extract a confession. The abuse went on for hours, RUNNING EAGLE never confessed to a crime he did not commit.

Comment : As displayed on the page "Points raised against Saldate in the Superior Court of Arizona" the detective in question was Armando Saldate. Similar to Debra's case the suspect and interviewee was a considerably weak and inexperienced individual with little knowledge about his legal rights. And as we have learned from Saldate's interview with SCOTT, threatening him to ransack the apartment of his elderly and frail mother, SEAN RUNNING EAGLE claims that he had to face threats and assaults as well.

Others who were close to him were similarly abused but still no confession resulted from this treatment. The practice used in Arizona is the continued questioning and harassment of suspects in total disregard of their constitutional right to an attorney. Even after repeated requests for an attorney by RUNNING EAGLE the detectives continued to ignore his pleas for legal counsel. A part of the interrogation consisted of actual physical abuse and direct threats such as "I want to see you die in the gas chamber !"

Comment : Here RUNNING EAGLE'S claim, independently and coherently, matches Debra Milke's entirely. Debra steadfastly said that she had requested an attorney but that Saldate had refused her request, furthermore denying her use of the phone. Also, as in Debra's case the detective continued to accuse the interviewee and claimed he already knew what actually happened.

In recent years a defendant charged with murder in the state of Arizona has been forced to deal with two prosecutors at his trial, the state and the judge. RUNNING EAGLE'S case was no different. Not only do defendants have to fight the weight of the state with its power and money but also the judges who are pro-prosecution.

Comment : Several parts of this website have shown this to be true. Not only did Saldate and prosecutor NOEL LEVY ruthlessly fabricate a case against Debra Milke, but the presiding judge at trial Cheryl K. Hendrix allowed Saldate's unsigned, not-witnessed and not tape-recorded so-called 'confession' of Debra into evidence at the Voluntariness Hearing. The parallels are obvious.

It is a standard operating practice in Arizona courts to suppress evidence that will aid the defendant in his struggle. In fact the state routinely manufactures evidence that is used against the defendant. The state does this through manipulation, coerced false statements, and unreliable, often false testimony secured as part of a deal made with a witness. During trial there was jury misconduct and this was brought to the attention of the trial judge who refused to take action. RUNNING EAGLE was forced to deal with not only false evidence, a biased judge, but now also a tainted jury.

As for RUNNING EAGLE'S representation he was subjected to a classic American condition, "How much justice can you afford !" It's a sad but irrefutable fact this state and many others defendants facing murder charges cannot afford effective representation and are left at the mercy of a court appointed attorney, many of whom are not qualified or competent to defend such cases. As the case against RUNNING EAGLE will show, his lawyer was not qualified - in fact the record clearly shows he sold his client out.

Comment : Again, a parallel is seen in Debra's case, where the government-paid public defender KEN RAY commenced his representation at trial without knowing what had actually happened in the murder case of 4-year-old CHRISTOPHER MILKE.

And now RUNNING EAGLE sits on death row (almost eleven years) for a crime he did not commit, another victim of the state. He is penniless, alone, and looking for hope, while the state relentlessly continues. While the state continues to impose their power and will on him and others like him. Today RUNNING EAGLE languishes in one of the most cruel and hideous prisons in the United States.

Note : SMU II has a very restrictive policy, postage is through inmate store purchases only. If you would like to correspond please send a money order. I would really appreciate it. Thank you.

SEAN RUNNING EAGLE'S PEN PAL REQUEST :

Age/Birthday: 33 years
birthday 12-7-1968
Race/Tribe: Ojibwe, Cherokee
Physical Description: 5'11", 225 lbs, dark brown hair, brown eyes

Death Row Interests/Looking for : I'm just curious about life in the world. I really love to get photos, but we're not allowed Polaroids. I want to see people, their lives, their friends and family. Them at Party's, Picnic's, swimming, playing, dancing etc. Having fun, love, emotions, intimate, life, homes, everything.

I would like their wants, desires, their experiences. Things that I should or would know have learned if I wasn't locked up in prison. Things that I will need to know if I an ever released from prison, to deal with people.

The two photos on this page were taken on 1995 and represent a totally different time. I lost 50 pounds of weight since then, they moved the entire Death Row from CB-6. We no longer wear blue (those in the pictures were my own personal clothing' s). Now they have us wear State issue orange clothing. WE NO LONGER HAVE WINDOWS. No paint on the cell walls. They took my lamp away.

Sean B. Running Eagle 71847
Az. State Prison - Eyman - SMU II
PO Box 3400
Florence Arizona
85232-3400  USA


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This page was last updated January 21, 2002
Canadian Coalition Against the Death Penalty
This page is maintained and updated by Dave Parkinson and Tracy Lamourie in Toronto, Canada