A Farmington woman, whose Jan. 15 death, was classified as suspicious by the Farmington Police Department, had a few run-ins with law enforcement.
Kelsie Todacheeny, 33, was found dead at 3:28 a.m. inside a home in the 2400 block of E. 20th St.
“The circumstances surrounding Ms. Todacheeny’s death are currently under scrutiny as part of the ongoing investigation,” Farmington Police spokeswoman Shanice Gonzales said in a prepared statement.
Todacheeny has had two known DWI cases. She pleaded no contest to the first in 2014, and to no contest to the second in 2019. By pleading no contest, she admitted there was enough evidence to convict her, without stating her own guilty, according to court records.
Then in 2018, she pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor assault on a peace officer in connection to an incident Sept. 12, 2017, at 2505 E, 25th St. in Farmington.
Police were called to the home that Todacheeny shared with her boyfriend of nearly a decade, Melvin Becenti Jr., 31. At the time, police were investigating a “domestic violence physical fight,” in which Todacheeny reportedly struck Becenti in the face and he reportedly bit Todacheeny’s finger, court records state.
However, when police attempted to make contact with Todacheeny, she became “aggressive and kicked” a Farmington Police Department officer in the knee, court records state.
In 2019, Todacheeny pleaded guilty to a fourth-degree felony battery on a health care worker in connection to a Feb. 24 incident at the San Juan County Detention Center, according to court records.
Police first were called at 7:18 p.m. to a home in the 700 block of Brianna Place in response to Todacheeny and Becenti arguing. Todacheeny reportedly was locked in a bathroom and would not come out.
Then, Todacheeny’s father came to the residence, which he owned, and told police he wanted her removed and taken to the jail.
When police entered the residence, Todacheeny was “in the living room,” but ran and “tried to lock herself in a pantry closet.” Becenti prevented her from closing the door, and police were able to get her “hands behind her back and placing her in cuffs,” court records state.
Todacheeny was transported to the San Juan County Detention Center, where she was escorted to the medical unit and was seen by an emergency medical technician, who used her “pointer finger to check the tightness of the restraints,” court records state.
While the technician’s finger was “between the restraint and Kelsie’s left leg, Kelsie flexed her leg and pushed it toward” the woman, causing her finger “to get twisted in the restraint” and to “pop,” court records state.
Todacheeny also spit on the technician.
Todacheeny was placed on probation for the crimes and completed her probation receiving a conditional discharge, according to court records.
Her record remained clean until she was arrested Dec. 27 and booked into the San Juan County Detention Center on a misdemeanor “alcohol-related charge.” She was sentenced to five days in jail and was released Dec. 31, 2023, according to jail records.
Police are asking anyone with information regarding Todacheeny’s death to “come forward and assist in the investigation,” Gonzales said, adding police are seeking “information that may aid in understanding the circumstances surrounding this tragic event.”
Farmington detectives can be contacted at (505) 599-1068.
