Image Credentials: Image Title: Convicted Arizona Murderer Sentenced to Life After Killing Second Victim Just 16 Days Post-Release Source: (sora.chatgpt) Date: May 2025 Attribution: Created by AI-generated imagery (sora.chatgpt), it does not depict a real-world scene.
By Staff Writer with Agencies
Phoenix, Arizona – May 31, 2025
A convicted Arizona murderer, who was released from prison in 2020, has been sentenced to life in prison after killing a second victim just 16 days after his release. Clifton Nez Hamalowa, 47, of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, has a lengthy history of violent offenses, and prosecutors have called him a “career offender” due to his repeated criminal behavior.
According to a sentencing memorandum filed on May 22, Hamalowa was released after serving time for a previous murder charge. However, just over two weeks after his release, Hamalowa shot and killed Richard Olds in front of Olds’ young child, in a shocking act of violence. The U.S. Attorney’s Office revealed in a May 29 press release that Hamalowa shot Olds in the head before his siblings, Thomas Leon Hamalowa and Devonne Beth Hamalowa, assisted him in dumping the victim’s body in a remote area near Phoenix.
The crime took place on reservation land belonging to the Gila River Indian Community, about 30 miles southeast of Phoenix. Hamalowa was arrested after a seven-day trial, where he was found guilty of multiple charges, including first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit assault, assault with a dangerous weapon, and discharging a firearm in the commission of a violent crime.
A History of Violence
This latest murder is far from Hamalowa’s first violent crime. Prosecutors highlighted his extensive criminal history in the sentencing memorandum, which paints a grim picture of a man whose violent tendencies have escalated over the years. The memo reveals that in 1991, Hamalowa stabbed his mother with a butcher’s knife. In 1999, he went on to fatally stab a man during an argument and then threatened his mother when she attempted to report the crime.
While incarcerated between 1999 and 2000, Hamalowa’s violent behavior continued when he stabbed a fellow inmate. These violent acts, along with his role in the recent murder, led prosecutors to label him a “career offender,” underscoring his dangerousness to society.
A Call for Justice and Accountability
On May 27, Hamalowa was sentenced to life in prison plus an additional 10 years for his role in the killing. Federal authorities stressed the severity of his actions and his continued threat to public safety. Prosecutors also revealed that Hamalowa and his sister attempted to intimidate witnesses to prevent them from reporting the crime.
In addition to the life sentence, his siblings, Thomas and Devonne, pleaded guilty to accessory charges and were sentenced to time behind bars in 2023 and 2024, respectively.
“This case highlights the repeated failure to reform a career criminal who continues to inflict harm on others despite previous incarceration,” said a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona. “We hope today’s sentencing brings some level of justice to the victim’s family and the community.”
A Troubling Pattern
Clifton Nez Hamalowa’s quick return to violence after his release raises serious questions about the effectiveness of rehabilitation programs for repeat offenders and the dangers of releasing individuals with such a lengthy history of violent crime. The shooting of Richard Olds, an innocent victim in front of his child, underscores the profound risk posed by individuals like Hamalowa, who have repeatedly demonstrated a capacity for extreme violence.
As Hamalowa faces life in prison, the case serves as a stark reminder of the challenges of managing individuals with extensive criminal backgrounds and the need for rigorous review processes to protect public safety.