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Quick Facts
Offender Status: both were executed by lethal injection in Arkansas on January 8, 1997
MO: shooting, robbery
Timespan of Crimes: June-July 1977
Date of Incarceration: July 13, 1977
Sentence: sentenced to death by lethal injection
Case Status: closed
Number of Victims: 7
Location of Crimes: Arkansas, Oregon
Summary of Paul Ruiz & Earl Van Denton’s Crimes
Paul Ruiz & Earl Van Denton were inmates at Oklahoma State Penitentiary when they escaped along with another inmate, Elmer Finin - who shortly after their escape was separated from Paul and Earl - and fled across the country. During their journey, they murdered 7 people via gunshot in Arkansas and Oregon before they were detained and sentenced to death at the Arkansas Department of Correction on January 8, 1997.
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