Humphry Dixon Dogbe Sentenced to Death for Lori Lynn Blankenship Murder

A 35-year-old man has been sentenced to death for the 2020 murder and sexual assault of Lori Lynn Blankenship in Phoenix. The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office confirmed the sentence in a statement issued on Nov. 10.

Humphry Dixon Dogbe received the capital sentence following his conviction for murder, kidnapping, and sexual assault. In addition to the death penalty, Dogbe was sentenced in October to 48 years in prison for the kidnapping, sexual assault, and sexual abuse counts. According to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, these two sentences are to be served concurrently.

The Discovery at 27th Avenue

The case traces back to the morning of May 8. Phoenix Police officers were dispatched to an emergency call near the intersection of I-10 and 27th Avenue. Upon arrival, they discovered Blankenship in a state of undress, exhibiting clear signs of trauma. “Officers noticed she had been dead for a few hours before they were called to the area,” read a portion of the statement.

Sex offender sentenced to death for killing woman in Phoenix — 12 News

Evidence presented during the proceedings provided a grim account of the events. “The fueling station’s surveillance cameras showed Dogbe dragging the victim across the pavement, choking her and sexually assaulting her before leaving,” an MCAO spokesperson wrote.

Investigators identified Dogbe, who was a registered sex offender living in the area where the incident happened, through a photo lineup. A witness reported attempting to intervene and stop Dogbe during the assault, strengthening the identification.

The Path to Execution

While the sentencing marks the end of the trial phase, the logistical timeline for capital punishment in Arizona remains governed by specific state procedures. Under state law, “once a person’s conviction and death sentence have been affirmed and no further legal challenges remain, the Supreme Court must issue [an execution warrant] when the State requests one.”

For those currently on death row, the wait is often extensive. According to data provided by the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation & Reentry, the nine inmates executed by the state since 2013 spent an average of around 25 years on death row.

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