Phoenix Man Sentenced to Death in 2020 Killing
Dogbe, 35, was found guilty of killing Blankenship in the first degree, abducting her, sexually abusing her and committing four sexual assaults. The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office announced the death sentence on November 10, 2026. In October, he received a 48-year prison term for the kidnapping and sexual assault and abuse convictions; that term will run concurrently with the death sentence.
Phoenix police responded to a 911 call at about 4:30 a.m. on May 8, 2020, at a fuel stop close to Interstate 10 and 27th Avenue. They found Blankenship suffering from severe injuries; she had died hours earlier.
According to the county attorney’s office, surveillance video captured Dogbe pulling Blankenship over the ground, strangling her and sexually attacking her. A witness who tried to intervene identified Dogbe in a photo lineup. He was listed on the sex-offender registry and lived in the neighborhood. Later, police found him at a nearby business wearing clothes matching those in the video. He reportedly told police he raped and choked Blankenship after soliciting her for sex and being refused.
County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said the sentence was the law’s most severe consequence, while noting that no verdict could restore Blankenship’s life. Arizona’s Supreme Court issues an execution warrant when a death sentence has been affirmed, legal challenges are exhausted and the state requests one. Arizona prisoners executed since 2013 spent an average of about 25 years on death row.
Death Sentence Ends Trial, Not Debate Over Arizona’s Harshest Punishment
The death sentence for Humphry Dogbe is the most severe punishment Arizona can impose, but it cannot restore Lori Lynn Blankenship’s life. County Attorney Rachel Mitchell acknowledged that reality while announcing the sentence on November 10, 2026.
Dogbe, 35, was convicted of killing Blankenship in the first degree, abducting her, sexually abusing her and committing four sexual assaults. He also received a 48-year prison term in October for kidnapping and sexual assault and abuse; it will run concurrently with the death sentence.
Police found Blankenship suffering from severe injuries at a fuel stop close to Interstate 10 and 27th Avenue after a 911 call at about 4:30 a.m. on May 8, 2020. Prosecutors said surveillance footage captured Dogbe pulling her along, strangling her and sexually attacking her. A witness who tried to stop the attack identified him in a photo lineup. Dogbe was a registered sex offender living nearby and was later found wearing clothing matching the video. He reportedly told police he raped and choked Blankenship after she refused his solicitation for sex.
Arizona’s death penalty does not mean an execution is imminent. An execution warrant comes only after the conviction and sentence are affirmed, legal challenges end and the state requests the warrant. People executed in Arizona since 2013 spent an average of about 25 years on death row. The sentence delivers punishment, while the long process ahead underscores the gravity and lasting consequences of state executions.
Arizona Jury’s Verdict Brings Death Sentence for Phoenix Killer
Arizona’s justice system imposed its strongest penalty on Humphry Dogbe after his conviction for the sexual assault and killing of Lori Lynn Blankenship. The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office announced the death sentence on November 10, 2026, describing it as the law’s most severe consequence.
Dogbe, 35, was found guilty of killing Blankenship in the first degree, abducting her, sexually abusing her and committing four sexual assaults. In October, he received 48 years in prison for the kidnapping and sexual assault and abuse counts, to run at the same time as the death sentence.
The evidence described by prosecutors included gas-station surveillance footage capturing Dogbe as he hauled Blankenship over the ground, strangled her and sexually attacked her. Police responded to a 911 call at about 4:30 a.m. on May 8, 2020, near Interstate 10 and 27th Avenue, and found Blankenship with traumatic injuries. A witness who tried to intervene identified Dogbe in a photo lineup. He was a registered sex offender living in the area, and police later found him nearby in clothes matching those seen in the footage. He reportedly told police he raped and choked Blankenship after she refused his solicitation for sex.
The sentence reflects the seriousness of the crimes and the jury’s verdict. Arizona’s process still requires the conviction and sentence to be affirmed, legal challenges to be completed and the state to request an execution warrant. In Arizona, people executed since 2013 spent an average of about 25 years on death row.
Reported by FOX 10 Phoenix, AZFamily.
