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Judge denies Utah death row inmate’s appeal in 1988 killing

Salt Lake City — A federal judge has denied an appeal by a man who has been on Utah’s death row for 30 years.

The ruling Friday by U.S. District Judge Claire Egan denies a petition by Ralph Leroy Menzies, who was sentenced to die for the killing of Maurine Hunsaker in 1986.

The victim was abducted from a Kearns convenience store where she worked and she was later found strangled and her throat cut in a Big Cottonwood Canyon picnic area.

Menzies had Hunsaker's wallet and several other belongings when he was jailed on unrelated matters.