An Aztec woman allegedly shot and killed her husband Sunday evening in their home on County Road 3016.
The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office was notified of the shooting when a 911 call came in from Jeremy Cordell, who made authorities aware that his mother-in-law, Lucia Naranjo, 69, called his wife and “advised her she had ‘shot (her husband) in the head,’” according to the arrest affidavit.
When deputies arrived on scene they found Richard Patterson, 67, with a gunshot wound to the head. He was taken to San Juan Regional Medical Center, where he died at 8:58 p.m. Jan. 21.
“After Naranjo was notified about her late husband’s passing, there were no emotions or remorseful response to the news,” according to the affidavit.
Naranjo was arrested by deputies and stated that she “did not want to speak without an attorney present,” court records state.
Sheriff’s detectives reported that “suspected blood spatters” and “human tissue” where found in Naranjo’s hair, on her shirt and on her socks.
Deputies advised they observed Naranjo remove white socks, which had “noticeable discoloration marks which looked consistent with blood.” After removing them, she reportedly “placed them in the back of pants,” concealing them, court records state.
When asked about the location of the socks, Naranjo reportedly “looked with a blank stare for a moment and did not verbalize where the socks were.” However, she later “removed them from the back of her waistband of her pants” and turned them over, the affidavit states.
While sheriff’s detectives photographed Naranjo, she reportedly stated, “You know I’m not denying anything,” according to the affidavit.
The affidavit also states that she “walked up to the reflective glass window and stated, ‘You’re going to (expletive) prison dude.’”
Court records indicate Naranjo has been charged with second-degree murder and third-degree felony tampering with evidence in connection to this incident.
She was arrested and booked at 3:28 a.m. Monday into the San Juan County Detention Center. She had no previous criminal record.
The case has been transferred to the 11th Judicial District Court and a detention hearing has been set for 10:30 a.m. Jan. 30 in District Judge Daylene Marsh’s courtroom.
