Bankruptcy attorney, a former prosecutor, charged in killing

By Nick R. Martin | January 16th, 2009 | 12:00 pm | 16 Comments »


Daniel Gukeisen

More than three months after his arrest on suspicion of stabbing a man to death, a former South Dakota prosecutor turned Tempe bankruptcy attorney has officially been charged with manslaughter.

A spokesman with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office made the announcement yesterday in a news release, saying Daniel Gukeisen, 37, was indicted by a grand jury in the stabbing death of of a 22-year-old. Authorities say he attacked Garrett Hohn at about 2 a.m. on Sept. 26, 2008 over some kind of argument about noise outside the attorney’s downtown Tempe town home.

Gukeisen, whose law firm maintains the interestingly-named website, www.wantafreshstart.com, was originally arrested by Tempe police just a few days after the death.

It is still unclear why caused the delay between his arrest and charging. Neither a spokesman with the county attorney’s office, nor a spokeswoman with the Tempe police department knew what caused the delay. The indictment came down on Jan. 7.

Gukeisen appears to have maintained a lucrative practice specializing in bankruptcy cases, even making appearances on local TV, talking about the recent rise in bankruptcy cases amid the financial downturn.

The Rapid City Journal reported that Gukeisen was also worked as a prosecutor in Lawrence County, South Dakota as recently as 2004.

Authorities say the victim and a friend were walking home from a club on Mill Avenue when they were confronted by Gukeisen. What happened next is still unclear, but police say it ended with the attorney stabbing Hohn, who later died at a local hospital.


  • Scott

    I hate to say it, but the people who took over Bankruptcy Helpers in Phoenix are just as devious as Daniel. Swindlers and con men. If you’re filing for bankruptcy, go somewhere else.

  • Scott

    I hate to say it, but the people who took over Bankruptcy Helpers in Phoenix are just as devious as Daniel. Swindlers and con men. If you're filing for bankruptcy, go somewhere else.

  • T G

    I agree with you. To think that my wife almost went to work fro him full time. She did some temp work for him.

  • T G

    I agree with you. To think that my wife almost went to work fro him full time. She did some temp work for him.

  • Anonymous

    I too agree the whole outfit is full of con artist and should not be allowed to practice law nor bankruptcy.

  • Anonymous

    I too agree the whole outfit is full of con artist and should not be allowed to practice law nor bankruptcy.

  • rlroble411

    I too agree the whole outfit is full of con artist and should not be allowed to practice law nor bankruptcy.

  • RLS

    On April 6, 2011, the jury returned a verdict of guilty of manslaughter against Daniel Ray Gukeisen in Maricopa County Superior Court cause #CR2009-005838.

    • SJB12

      And being the little bitch coward that he is, Gukeisen is on the run. He didn’t show up for the verdict. He should hope the police find him before Garrett Hohn’s father.

      • RT

        It’s just a sad situation for both families. I think Dan will do the right thing and turn himself in.

      • Tylerrudden

        Crock of shit is what it is. Garrett and his little saint of a buddy, Lee, were acting like little fraternity bitches and, in Lee’s own words, sought to “teach an old man a lesson.” This was about the time both “boys” took off their shirts to intimidate the OLD Gukeisen brothers. It is unfortunate that anyone lost their life, but it looks like a lesson was taught. I am sorry that Mr. Hohn lost his immature son, but now he has made it known that he intends to use the funds he received from the civil settlement in the death of his son to MURDER Dan Gukeisen. Not unintentionally cause the loss of life, but to premeditate, plot and execute a plan to intentionally MURDER a man. Garrett and Lee were no damn saints, try though the prosecutor did to paint Lee as such. Come on, Lee, how many Coors Lights did you drink BEFORE heading to Margarita Rocks? Did you or didn’t you continue with 7-8 MORE Coors Lights WITH the 7-8 Jaeger Bombers you admittedly consumed just prior to heading home and, subsequently, found yourself desiring to teach some OLD MEN a lesson? Remember, Lee, your testimony is there in black and white. Amazing that you would think yourself in ANY position to teach a lesson of ANY kind to ANYONE after such abusive alcoholic consumption. You of ALL PEOPLE would know this given your knowledge of the inability for you to fly a plane within 8 hours…yes, EIGHT HOURS… after consuming a SINGLE BEER. You don’t remember a damn thing about the night your actions got your friend killed. You only pieced together what you could to destroy the life of a man that was protecting his home and, more importantly, his pregnant wife. Perhaps someday you will grow up, grow a sack and discover honesty…. for now you are stuck being a pathetic little man that misses his friend and hopefully NEVER forgives himself for causing his death! Sorry, Garrett!!

  • I removed a comment from this thread that appeared to make some pretty inflammatory allegations without backing them up. I know this is an emotional situation and a lot of people are upset. To the commenter I deleted, please feel free to re-post without the allegations. And if you think I shouldn’t have removed the comment, please feel free to email me and discuss.

  • RLS

    Gukeisen has been disbarred in Arizona (see:  http://www.azbar.org/FindALawyer?Name=gukeisen&AOP=#&&/wEXAQUMU2VsZWN0ZWRQYWdlBQZkZXRhaWwqapqCPvm34rUBQsqetfHIcEivVkhh0kMO4S5YlA0nzg==).  According the State Bar website, he ADMITTED violating Ethical Rule 8.4(b) which provides:  “It is professional misconduct for a lawyer to: . . . (b) commit a criminal act that reflects adversely on the lawyer’s honesty, trustworthiness or fitness as a lawyer in other respects.”   

  • I hear you on your wife almost going to work for him. It’s scary to think how different things could have been.

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  • Elsa West

    Sad story, people that are tasked to help people are not doing what they supposed to do.