On Monday, a former graduate student of the University of Arizona was handed a life sentence without the chance of parole for the 2022 on-campus murder of a professor.
48-year-old Murad Dervish was convicted of first-degree murder for fatally shooting Thomas Meixner, the head of the University’s Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences, on October 5, 2022. The sentence he received on Monday ensures that he will spend the rest of his life in prison, plus an additional 14 years, without the possibility of parole.
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- 1 Family, university requested life sentence without parole
- 2 Dervish apologizes to Meixner’s family but says trial was unfair
- 3 Dervish threatened, harassed staff before the shooting
In addition to being expelled and barred from the campus, Dervish, a graduate student, was recently found guilty of multiple charges by a jury, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, burglary, and endangerment.
Meixner and other faculty members, as well as university staff, were allegedly threatened by him for over a year.
Family, university requested life sentence without parole
At Meisner’s sentencing, Dervish heard from Meisner’s sisters, son, and wife about the impact of his actions. They all advocated for Dervish to receive a life sentence without the possibility of parole. Meisner’s loved ones shared heartfelt stories about his kindness, intelligence, and generosity towards his community.
During the sentencing announcement, Sean Meixner, one of Dervish’s sons, expressed his immense sorrow, sadness, and deep-seated hatred towards Dervish. He shared how his father’s absence has completely shattered his life, leaving him feeling lost and helpless. Sean spoke about his longing to hold his father once again and free himself from the constant agony of living without him, stating that his life will never be the same without him.
He expressed his disbelief and grief, questioning how a man who dedicated his life to serving God and helping others could be taken away in such a terrible manner – experiencing pain and fear. He wondered about the whereabouts of God during such a tragedy.
According to Celina Ramirez, who represented the university, Meixner was not only a world-renowned scholar but also a passionate and kind mentor whose leadership played a crucial role in the high ranking of the hydrology department.
According to her, the mental health of university staff and students has been deeply affected by the shooting incident. She highlighted the difficulties that many individuals are facing in returning to campus, given the impact it has had on them.
Ramirez stated that the defendant’s actions have caused immense grief and pain to Dr. Meixner’s family, friends, colleagues, students, and the university community. Despite any legal punishment, it is impossible to fully make up for the harm that has been caused.
Meixner’s sisters were vocal in their criticism of the University, UA police, and the individual who sold Dervish the firearm he used to take Meixner’s life.
Margaret Meixner, one of his sisters, expressed her disappointment in the University of Arizona, stating that it failed her brother. Despite his love and trust for the institution, she believes that his trust was misplaced.
In a scathing criticism, she accused the university police department of being incompetent and held both the police and the university accountable for her brother’s death, stating that they had his blood on their hands.
In a letter penned by University President Robbert Robbins, it was disclosed that the university police had made two attempts to bring charges against Dervish to the attention of the county attorney’s office. However, due to insufficient evidence, the county attorney declined to press any charges.
After the shooting incident, an investigation by the faculty revealed that the university was already aware of the threats but failed to take adequate measures to ensure the safety of people on campus. Furthermore, a consultant hired by the university compiled a report that included 33 recommendations to enhance security measures.
Following the tragedy, the university took several measures to improve safety and enhance safety communications. Despite these efforts, Meixner’s family filed a lawsuit against the university for $2.5 million for their failure to safeguard Meixner in January.
Dervish apologizes to Meixner’s family but says trial was unfair
When it was time for Meixner’s family members to make their victim statements, Dervish went against his attorney’s objection and spoke to the judge.
Feeling compelled to address the repeated allegations that he was a monster, Dervish opened up about his lifelong fascination with weather. From a young age, he found himself enamored by the natural phenomenon, and his joy was palpable when he was admitted to the University of Arizona to study it further.
He expressed his feeling of being in a new and enchanting place where he could finally pursue his true passion. Despite facing numerous challenges such as addiction, homelessness, and rejection from people in his life, he persevered to fulfill his aspirations.
He expressed his heartfelt sorrow for “what happened.”
Dervish expressed his sorrow over the loss of their loved one, stating that it is simply unbearable for them. He admitted that he doesn’t know what to say to the wife of the deceased. He believes that saying sorry feels inadequate and inappropriate given the gravity of the situation.
In stating his case, he emphasized that his attorneys had made “significant errors” during the trial process. He pointed out that they failed to secure a change of venue, and he believed that this ultimately led to an unfair trial.
He expressed his dissatisfaction, saying “I haven’t had a trial that was fair and impartial.”
During a hearing at Pima County Superior Court, Judge Howard Fell informed the individual that they would have the chance to have others assess whether the trial was conducted in a fair and unbiased manner.
Fell declared, “You will spend the remainder of your life in prison.”
Dervish threatened, harassed staff before the shooting
Police have reported that Dervish escaped the building after the shooting. The complaint states that three hours after the incident, police discovered Dervish driving towards Mexico on Highway 85, approximately 30 miles south of Gila Bend.
According to the documents, Dervish declined to pull over and instead led the police on a pursuit that spanned two to three miles before his vehicle was ultimately brought to a stop.
Before the shooting incident took place, it was widely acknowledged among the members of the department and law enforcement that Dervish had a tendency to behave in a threatening manner. As per reports, in the year leading up to the shooting, Dervish had harassed and made threats towards staff members working at the Harshbarger Building.
According to Dervish’s lawyer, his animosity towards Meixner was a result of receiving a poor grade on a test.
Dervish was banned from entering the university even before his expulsion. The department went to the extent of circulating his pictures along with guidelines on when and how to alert the authorities if he was spotted on the premises.
Moreover, the passwords for the rooms that Dervish had previously been able to access have been altered.
Upon delivering the sentence, the Pima County Attorney’s Office released a statement indicating that County Attorney Laura Conover intends to reintroduce red-flag legislation to the Legislature this year, in accordance with the Meixner family’s desires.
According to a statement released by her office, County Attorney Conover is committed to fulfilling the family’s wishes and ensuring a safer community. She plans to reintroduce her red flag legislation in the legislature next year, and will continue to do so until common-sense gun safety reforms are put in place.
Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes supports laws that empower courts to seize firearms from individuals who may pose a danger to themselves or others.
In 2018, a shooting at a high school in Parkland, Florida, resulted in the tragic loss of 17 students and staff. Following this incident, former Gov. Doug Ducey proposed a law with a similar goal, albeit under a different name. However, despite being a Republican-sponsored bill, it was ultimately rejected by the GOP-majority Legislature.
