A grandmother who twice survived cancer was murdered last week, allegedly by a violent repeat offender freed by Tucson’s justice system.
Less than two weeks from her 62nd birthday and just before her retirement party, Tucson grandmother Susan Gehrke was on her apartment patio when she was hit with a punch to the face so hard that it reportedly broke her dentures and caused a fatal brain bleed.
Gehrke had been attempting to help up a friend who’d allegedly been struck moments earlier by her alleged assailant.
According to statements from her loved ones, Gehrke was reportedly “unrecognizable” to her family in her final moments at the hospital.
The man charged with Gehrke’s murder, 27-year-old Dahseir “Dice” Edward Jefferson, was out on early release from prison.
Jefferson had been sentenced to five years in prison for aggravated assault in February 2021, but was released around two years early in October 2024. Another charge of aggravated assault causing disfigurement was dismissed.
Two years prior to his assault conviction, Jefferson had been found guilty of third-degree burglary, with two charges dismissed due to a plea deal.
KLTV reported that Jefferson was far from a model prisoner. He was convicted of a slew of other crimes that likely should have extended his time behind bars, including disorderly conduct, disobeying orders, drug possession or manufacturing, and weapon possession.
Jefferson was charged with second-degree murder. He is being held on a $650,000 bond.
Gehrke’s grandson, Frankie Zills, questioned how many victims it would take for the justice system to stop prioritizing rehabilitation for violent career criminals.
“How many innocent people and family members have to be taken before the state figures out that you can’t rehabilitate people like this?” asked Zills.
Gehrke’s family is collecting funds through GoFundMe to cover expenses for Gehrke’s funeral and memorial service, end-of-life care and legal support, and a memorial tribute for what should have been Gehrke’s 63rd birthday on Monday, August 3.
“[H]er 62nd birthday is right around the corner[,] August 3rd. Instead of celebrating this special day together and planning her retirement party, we are now forced to plan her funeral,” stated the fundraiser page. “She was looking forward to relaxing, spending endless time with her children and grandchildren, and enjoying the peaceful next chapter of her life. Tragically, that future was stolen from her and from all of us who loved her so deeply.”
Gehrke graduated from Tucson’s Sunnyside High School in 1982. She worked as a pharmacy technician at FalconTek, a workforce staffing company, according to her Facebook profile. In addition to a love for her family, Gehrke’s social media also indicated that she was a fan of the Green Bay Packers, loved dogs and wildlife, and supported public education and teachers.
“Susan was a beacon of light to everyone who knew her,” stated her family in the fundraiser. “She spent her entire life working tirelessly, pouring her heart into her family, and putting others before herself.”
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