PHOENIX, Ariz. — Retta Renee Cruse, 38, a Phoenix mother convicted of killing her two young daughters in 2021, was found dead in her prison cell on Friday after allegedly hanging herself at Perryville Prison in Goodyear, according to state officials.
Prison staff discovered Cruse unconscious in her cell and attempted life-saving measures until emergency responders arrived. Despite their efforts, Cruse was pronounced dead at the scene, the Arizona Department of Correctionsconfirmed in a statement.
The Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office is currently investigating the official cause of death.
Conviction for the Murder of Her Two Daughters
Cruse was serving time for the first-degree murders of her daughters, 4-year-old Royal McIntyre and 9-year-old Aleyah McIntyre, whom she killed on September 8, 2021.
Police were called to a home near 13th Street and Mountain View Road in north Phoenix, where they found the two girls unresponsive. Cruse was found in a separate bedroom with self-inflicted knife wounds.
Investigators determined that Cruse had used a combination of prescription and over-the-counter medications to drug her daughters, leading to a fatal overdose.
After receiving treatment for her injuries, Cruse was arrested on September 14, 2021, and later convicted on two counts of first-degree murder. She was sentenced to life in prison in 2022.
Another Tragic Case in Arizona’s History of Family Murders
Cruse’s death draws comparisons to similar tragic cases in Arizona, including the 2020 murders of three young children by their mother, Rachel Henry, who was sentenced to life in prison after smothering her kids.
The case of Retta Cruse highlights the devastating impact of family-related tragedies and raises ongoing questions about mental health and support systems for individuals in crisis.
Further details regarding Cruse’s death will be released following the conclusion of the Medical Examiner’s investigation.
