New Mexico authorities arrested three women Wednesday in connection with the death of a 38-year-old disabled woman who had been in the care of a state-run program for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities — a case that drew the ire and attention of the highest rungs of state government.
“The abuse and neglect that she endured was horrific and the injuries she sustained are among the worst I have seen in my career as a prosecutor,” Attorney General Raúl Torrez said in a statement to The New Mexican.
“This was torture. There’s really no other word for it,” he said.
kAm%96 }6H |6I:4@ pEE@C?6J v6?6C2=’D ~77:46 492C865 E96 F?:56?E:7:65 H@>2?’D 42C68:G6C[ p?86=:E2 #6?6 r924@?[ da[ @7 #:@ #2?49@ H:E9 7:G6 4@F?ED[ :?4=F5:?8 23FD6 @C ?68=64E @7 2 C6D:56?E C6DF=E:?8 :? 562E9[ 2 D64@?5\568C66 76=@?J]k^Am
kAmr924@?’D 8:C=7C:6?5[ !2EC:4:2 wFCE25@[ ca[ 2=D@ @7 #:@ #2?49@[ H2D 492C865 H:E9 7@FC 4@F?ED[ :?4=F5:?8 ?68=64E @7 2 C6D:56?E]k^Am
kAm{FK $4@EE @7 r=@G:D H2D 492C865 H:E9 EH@ 4@F?ED[ :?4=F5:?8 72=D6 :>AC:D@?>6?E 2?5 4@?DA:C24J E@ 4@>>:E 72=D6 :>AC:D@?>6?E[ 3@E9 7@FCE9\568C66 76=@?:6D] p? 2CC6DE H2CC2?E 277:52G:E :56?E:7:6D $4@EE 2D 2 “7C:6?5^24BF2:?E2?46” @7 r924@?’D]k^Am
kAm%96 af\A286 277:52G:E[ 7:=65 3J E96 pEE@C?6J v6?6C2=’D ~77:46 :? $2?5@G2= r@F?EJ |28:DEC2E6 r@FCE[ @776CD 8CF6D@>6 56E2:=D 23@FE E96 42D6[ H9:49 AC@>AE65 E96 DE2E6 E@ =2F?49 :?E6C?2= :?G6DE:82E:@?Dj C66I2>:?6 @=5 :?4:56?ED @7 DFDA64E65 23FD6 2?5 ?68=64E[ :?4=F5:?8 E9C66 :? H9:49 2 4=:6?E 5:65j 2?5 =2F?49 F?2??@F?465 962=E9 2?5 D276EJ 4964<D @? E96 E9@FD2?5D @7 A6@A=6 6?C@==65 :? }6H |6I:4@’D s6G6=@A>6?E2= s:D23:=:E:6D (2:G6C AC@8C2>]k^Am
kAm$A64:2= 286?ED H:E9 E96 pEE@C?6J v6?6C2=’D ~77:46 2CC6DE65 E96 E9C66 H@>6? (65?6D52J H:E9 E96 2DD:DE2?46 @7 }6H |6I:4@ $E2E6 !@=:46 2?5 E96 #:@ #2?49@ !@=:46 s6A2CE>6?E]k^Am
kAm%96 277:52G:E AC@G:56D 56E2:=D 23@FE E96 42D6 — 7@C E96 7:CDE E:>6 — 2?5 :?4=F56D 8C2A9:4 A9@E@D @7 E96 H@>2?’D :?;FC:6D] $E2E6 @77:4:2=D 92G6 366? E:89E\=:AA65 23@FE E96 :?4:56?E[ 6G6? C67FD:?8 E@ D2J H96E96C E96 H@>2? H2D 5625 @C 2=:G6]k^Am
kAm%96 H@>2? 5:65 2E bi_h 2]>] pAC:= f 27E6C 36:?8 C6>@G65 7C@> =:76 DFAA@CE[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 277:52G:E]k^Am
kAm$96 7:CDE 42>6 E@ E96 2EE6?E:@? @7 A@=:46 27E6C 2 DE@A 2E E96 &]$]^|6I:4@ 3@C56C]k^Am
kAm~? u63] af[ |6I:42? 2FE9@C:E:6D DE@AA65 2 H9:E6 A2DD6?86C G2? 2E E96 qC:586 @7 E96 p>6C:42D !@CE @7 t?ECJ :? t= !2D@ 27E6C E96 5C:G6C 492?865 =2?6D :? H92E 2AA62C65 E@ 36 2? 2EE6>AE E@ 2G@:5 :?DA64E:@?[ E96 277:52G:E DE2E6D]k^Am
kAm|6I:42? 2FE9@C:E:6D 7@F?5 >2C:;F2?2 :? E96 G2? 2?5 25G:D65 &]$] rFDE@>D 2?5 q@C56C !C@E64E:@? @77:46CD E96 G2? H@F=5 36 C6EFC?65 E@ E96 &]$] 7@C :?DA64E:@?]k^Am
kAmp7E6C 5:C64E:?8 E96 5C:G6C[ =2E6C :56?E:7:65 2D wFCE25@[ E@ 2? :?DA64E:@? 2C62[ r924@? 4=2:>65 96C “25@AE:G6” 52F89E6C H2D :? E96 324< D62E @7 E96 G2? 2?5 D96 H2D ECJ:?8 E@ 8@ :?E@ |6I:4@ E@ E2<6 96C E@ 2 9@DA:E2=[ E96 277:52G:E DE2E6D] $96 2=D@ E@=5 @77:46CD 2 9@DA:E2= :? p=3FBF6CBF6[ H96C6 E96J H6C6 EC2G6=:?8 7C@>[ 4@F=5 ?@E 42C6 7@C E96 H@>2?’D “H@F?5D[” E96 277:52G:E DE2E6D]k^Am
kAmsFC:?8 2 D62C49 @7 E96 G2?[ @77:46CD 5:D4@G6C65 E96 H@>2?[ :56?E:7:65 :? 4@FCE 5@4F>6?ED @?=J 2D “|]|][” H2D?’E :? E96 324< D62E 2D r924@? 4=2:>65 3FE =J:?8 @? E96 7=@@C3@2C5 369:?5 E96 72CE96DE C62C A2DD6?86C D62E @7 E96 G2?[ H9:49 :D C68:DE6C65 E@ $4@EE]k^Am
kAm“$96 H2D =J:?8 @? 2 A:646 @7 7@2> HC2AA65 H:E9 2 3=2?<6E[” E96 277:52G:E DE2E6D] “|]|] 925 5:CEJ 32?5286D 4@G6C:?8 @A6? H@F?5D @? 96C 2C>D 2?5 =68D[ 2?5 E96 :?;FC:6D 2AA62C65 :?764E65]”k^Am
kAm~77:46CD 56E6C>:?65 E96 H@>2? ?66565 :>>65:2E6 >65:42= 2EE6?E:@?]k^Am
kAm“$96 H2D 7@F?5 E@ 92G6 =23@C65 3C62E9:?8 2?5 DE:E496D @? 3@E9 =:AD[” E96 277:52G:E DE2E6D] “$96 H2D 56D4C:365 2D :7 D96 H2?E65 E@ DA62<j 9@H6G6C[ @?=J ‘E62CD 76== 7C@> 96C 6J6D]’ ”k^Am
kAmp? @77:46C @? E96 D46?6 ?@E65 ?6:E96C r924@? ?@C wFCE25@ “56>@?DEC2E65 2?J FC86?4J[” 56DA:E6 E96 H@>2?’D A@@C 962=E9]k^Am
kAm“x?DE625[ 3@E9 H6C6 >6C6=J 6286C E@ =62G6[” E96 277:52G:E DE2E6D]k^Am
kAmp7E6C E96 H@>2? H2D EC2?DA@CE65 E@ 2? t= !2D@ 9@DA:E2= 2?5 :?EF32E65[ D96 H6?E :?E@ 42C5:24 2CC6DE]k^Am
kAm“|65:42= DE277 2DD6DD65 E92E E96 42C5:24 2CC6DE H2D 42FD65 3J D6AE:4 D9@4< 5F6 E@ :?764E:@?[ =:<6=J 42FD65 3J 96C >F=E:A=6 :?764E65 H@F?5D[” E96 277:52G:E DE2E6D] “r!# 2?5 =:76\D2G:?8 >65:42= AC@465FC6D H6C6 DF446DD7F==J A6C7@C>65 @? |]|][ C682:?:?8 96C 962CE C9JE9>]”k^Am
kAm|65:42= DE277 5@4F>6?E65 >F=E:A=6 H@F?5D 2== @G6C E96 H@>2?’D 3@5J]k^Am
kAm“%96 H@F?5D 2== AC@8C6DD65 :? 5:776C6?E DE286D[ H9:49[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 9@DA:E2= DE277[ DF886DE65 E92E |]|] H2D 2 G:4E:> @7 49C@?:4 23FD6[” E96 277:52G:E DE2E6D] “x? 255:E:@?[ >65:42= DE277 56E6C>:?65 E92E 2AAC@I:>2E6=J 92=7 @7 E96 H@F?5D H6C6 F=46CD =:<6=J 7@C>65 7C@> 365 D@C6D[ :?5:42E:?8 D96 H2D 3653@F?5]”k^Am
kAmpEE6?5:?8 5@4E@CD E@=5 2FE9@C:E:6D 92=7 @7 E96 H@F?5D 4@F=5 ?@E 92G6 4@>6 7C@> 365 D@C6D]k^Am
kAm“%96D6 H@F?5D :?4=F565 EH@ 566A F=46CD @? E96 D:56 @7 |]|]’D =@H6C =67E =68[ 2 566A =246C2E:@? E@ 96C C:89E A:?<J[ 23C2D:@?D @? 3@E9 @7 96C 3C62DED[ 3CF:D:?8 E@ 96C 8C@:?[ 3CF:D:?8 CF??:?8 24C@DD 96C 235@>6?[ H9:49 C6D6>3=65 E96 D92A6 @7 2? @FE=:?6 @7 D@>6 3:?5 WC6DEC2:?EX[ 2 E62C E@ 96C 2?FD[ 23C2D:@? E@ 96C =:AD 2?5 ?@D6[ 2?5 3CF:D:?8 E@ 96C 7246[” E96 277:52G:E DE2E6D] “p? F?:56?E:7:65 5@4E@C H9@ :?:E:2==J D2H |]|]’D … DFEFC6D @? 96C =:AD 2DD6DD65 E96J H6C6 ‘A@@C=J 5@?6]’ ”k^Am
kAmr924@? =2E6C E@=5 2FE9@C:E:6D E96 DFEFC6D @? E96 H@>2?’D =:AD H6C6 D6H? 3J 2 7C:6?5[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 2CC6DE H2CC2?E 277:52G:E]k^Am
kAmp D6IF2= 2DD2F=E ?FCD6 6I2>:?2E:@?[ E@ 4@==64E 6G:56?46 4@>>@?=J C676CC65 E@ 2D 2 C2A6 <:E[ H2D A6C7@C>65 @? E96 H@>2? |2C49 d 5F6 E@ 96C “EC2F>2E:4 :?;FC:6D[” E96 277:52G:E DE2E6D] xE C6G62=65 E96 H@>2? 925 D6G6C2= =246C2E:@?D 36EH66? 96C G28:?2 2?5 2?FD[ 2D H6== 2D =246C2E:@?D :? 96C 2?FD]k^Am
kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ E96 277:52G:E[ r924@? 2?5 wFCE25@ D@F89E >65:42= 42C6 7@C E96 H@>2? @FED:56 }6H |6I:4@ “E@ E9H2CE D@4:2= D6CG:46D :?G@=G6>6?E 5F6 E@ E96 >F=E:EF56 @7 :?;FC:6D 2E 5:776C6?E DE286D @7 962=:?8 E@ 96C 3@5J]”k^Am
kAm$4@EE A=2J65 2 C@=6 2E “r924@?’D DF886DE:@?[” E96 277:52G:E DE2E6D]k^Am
kAm$4@EE[ H9@ H@C<D 7@C 2 9@>6 962=E9 AC@G:56C[ E@=5 A@=:46 r924@?[ H9@> D96’D <?@H? 7@C >2?J J62CD[ 42==65 96C u63] af @C ag D2J:?8 D96 ?66565 A6?:4:==:?] p7E6C 5C:G:?8 7C@> r=@G:D E@ #:@ #2?49@ E@ 56=:G6C A6?:4:==:?[ $4@EE E@=5 A@=:46 D96 D2H E96 6IE6?E @7 E96 H@>2?’D H@F?5D]k^Am
kAm“{FK $4@EE C676C6?465 E92E E96 :?;FC:6D =@@<65 =:<6 E96J H6?E E@ E96 3@?6[” 255:?8 E96 2?E:3:@E:4D H@F=5?’E 5@ E96 H@>2? 2?J 8@@5[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 277:52G:E]k^Am
kAm$4@EE 4=2:>65 r924@? 2D<65 E@ 3@CC@H 96C G2? 3642FD6 r924@?’D 42C H2D E@@ D>2== E@ EC2?DA@CE E96 H@>2?]k^Am
kAm“$4@EE DE2E65 E92E D96 7@==@H65 96C G2? :? p?86=:E2 r924@?’D G69:4=6 … E@ |6I:4@[” E96 277:52G:E DE2E6D]k^Am
kAmt=64EC@?:4 =:46?D6 A=2E6 C6256CD C64@C565 r924@?’D G69:4=6 4C@DD:?8 “E96 D2>6 C@FE6 :?E@ yF2C6K” E96 D2>6 ?:89E r924@? 2?5 wFCE25@ H6C6 DE@AA65 2E E96 3@C56C]k^Am
kAm“xE :D 36=:6G65 E92E {FK $4@EE H2D E96 5C:G6C[” E96 277:52G:E DE2E6D]k^Am
kAmpFE9@C:E:6D 7C@> >F=E:A=6 =2H 6?7@C46>6?E 286?4:6D 92G6 :?E6CG:6H65 r924@?[ H9@ “92D 56>@?DEC2E65 F?ECFE97F=?6DD @? ?F>6C@FD @442D:@?D[” E96 277:52G:E DE2E6D]k^Am
kAmsFC:?8 2 |2C49 `_ :?E6CG:6H H:E9 uqx 286?ED[ r924@?[ H9@ :D 2=D@ E96 42C68:G6C 7@C 96C ah\J62C\@=5 DA64:2= ?665D D@?[ 42==65 E96 H@>2? H9@ 925 366? :? 96C 42C6 “D@ D>2CE” 3FE 2=D@ 56D4C:365 96C 2D D?62<J[ 4@??:G:?8 2?5 2?E28@?:DE:4]k^Am
kAm“p?86=:E2 r924@? 3682? E@ 4CJ[ DE2E:?8 E92E |]|] ‘3C@<6’ 96C] u:?2==J[ D96 DE2E65 E92E D96 ‘4@F=5?’E E2<6 :E 2?J>@C6[’ ” E96 277:52G:E DE2E6D]k^Am
kAmr924@? C642==65 2 C646?E :?4:56?E :? H9:49 D96 244FD65 E96 H@>2? @7 E9C@H:?8 2 A@CE23=6 DE6C6@ 2E 96C[ DEC:<:?8 2?5 4FEE:?8 96C 92?5] $96 4=2:>65 D96 E9C6H E96 DE6C6@ 324< 2E E96 H@>2?[ 42FD:?8 E96 =:A :?;FCJ] r924@? E@=5 286?ED 2 7C:6?5 DE:E4965 96C 92?5[ 2D H6== 2D E96 H@>2?’D =:AD]k^Am
kAmr924@? C642==65 2?@E96C :?4:56?E :? H9:49[ D96 D2:5[ E96 H@>2?[ “56D4C:365 2D @G6C b__ A@F?5D[” E9C62E6?65 E@ 3C62< 2 H:?5@H H:E9 2 82C56? 9@D6[ E96 277:52G:E DE2E6D]k^Am
kAm“r924@? D2:5 D96 925 E@ 9:E |]|] ‘5625 46?E6C[’ ” E96 277:52G:E DE2E6D] “r924@? 6IA=2:?65 … ‘J@F 92G6 E@ 8@ =@H @? |]|] 5625 46?E6C E@ >@G6 96C]’ ”k^Am
kAmr924@? 4@>A=2:?65 D96 H2D?’E C646:G:?8 E96 DFAA@CE D96 ?66565 7C@> pE w@>6 p5G@424J {{r[ H9:49 E96 277:52G:E 56D4C:36D 2D 2 AC:G2E6=J CF? 3FD:?6DD E92E >2?2865 2?5 DFA6CG:D65 E96 H@>2?’D A=246>6?E :? r924@?’D 9@>6]k^Am
kAm“x H:== 36 244@F?E23=6 7@C >J A2CE :? 72:=:?8 96C[” r924@? E@=5 E96 uqx 286?ED[ 255:?8 pE w@>6 p5G@424J ?665D E@ 36 96=5 244@F?E23=6[ E@@]k^Am
kAmx? 2 DE2E6>6?E[ E96 4@>A2?J HC@E6 “2== :?DE2?46D @7 ?68=64E 2?5 23FD6 >FDE 36 255C6DD65” 9625 @?]k^Am
kAm“%@52J’D ?6HD :D 2? :>A@CE2?E DE6A :? 5@:?8 ;FDE E92E[” E96 4@>A2?J HC@E6[ 2AA2C6?E=J :? C676C6?46 E@ E96 2CC6DED] “(6 :?E6?5 E@ 4@?E:?F6 4@@A6C2E:?8 H:E9 :?G6DE:82E@CD[ 2D H6 92G6 2== 2=@?8]”k^Am
kAmp C6G:6H @7 E96 5:D23=65 H@>2?’D |65:42:5 4=2:>D 52E2 C6G62=65 E96 4@>A2?J C646:G65 “|65:42:5 AC@8C2> 5@==2CD 7@C 96C A=246>6?E 2?5 42C6” 7C@> u63] `[ a_a_[ F?E:= E9:D J62C]k^Am
kAm“sFC:?8 E92E E:>67C2>6[ ,pE w@>6 p5G@424J. C646:G65 Sabe[aad]ah :? |65:42:5 AC@8C2> 5@==2CD 7@C |]|][” E96 277:52G:E DE2E6D]k^Am
kAm%96 4@>A2?J :D 2=D@ C6DA@?D:3=6 7@C E96 42C6 2?5 A=246>6?E @7 r924@?’D DA64:2= ?665D D@?[ E96 277:52G:E DE2E6D] $:?46 u63] `[ a_`g[ E96 4@>A2?J 92D 4@==64E65 >@C6 E92? Sc__[___ :? |65:42:5 >@?6J 7@C 9:D 42C6]k^Am
kAm$:?46 E96 2==682E:@?D @7 23FD6 2?5 ?68=64E @7 E96 5:D23=65 H@>2? 42>6 E@ =:89E[ E96 ~77:46 @7 E96 x?DA64E@C v6?6C2= @7 E96 DE2E6 wF>2? $6CG:46D s6A2CE>6?E 92D =2F?4965 `b AC@G:56C 2F5:ED] r2==:?8 E96 2F5:ED =2H 6?7@C46>6?E C64@C5D E:65 E@ 2 A@E6?E:2= 4C:>:?2= :?G6DE:82E:@?[ E96 56A2CE>6?E E9:D H66< 56?:65 2 AF3=:4 C64@C5D C6BF6DE 7@C 5@4F>6?ED A6CE2:?:?8 E@ E96 2F5:ED]k^Am
kAmp DFA6CG:D@C H:E9 pE w@>6 p5G@424J E@=5 uqx 286?ED E96 4@>A2?J 7:CDE 4@?EC24E65 H:E9 r924@? “E@ AC@G:56 72>:=J =:G:?8 D6CG:46D” 7@C 96C D@? :? a_`c] %96 4@>A2?J 4@?EC24E65 H:E9 r924@? 7@C E96 42C6 @7 E96 5:D23=65 H@>2? :? a_a`[ E96 277:52G:E DE2E6D]k^Am
kAm“p44@C5:?8 E@ ,E96 4@>A2?J’D. <?@H=6586[ |]|] 4@F=5 H2=< :?56A6?56?E=J 2?5 H2D G6C32=] $96 H2D 2=D@ 23=6 E@ D9@H6C 2?5 >2<6 D:>A=6 >62=D 3J 96CD6=7[” E96 277:52G:E DE2E6D]k^Am
kAm%96 4@>A2?J 4@?5F4E65 >@?E9=J H6==?6DD G:D:ED 2E r924@?’D 9@>6[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 DFA6CG:D@C[ H9@ E@=5 286?ED E96 =2DE 4964< H2D 4@>A=6E65 y2?] ad]k^Am
kAm“$96 2DD6CE65 E92E ‘3@5J 4964<D’ H6C6 ?@E 4@?5F4E65 5FC:?8 E9@D6 >@?E9=J H6==?6DD G:D:ED[ 2?5 E96C6 H6C6 ?6G6C :?;FC:6D @3D6CG65 @? |]|]’D A6CD@?[” 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 277:52G:E]k^Am
kAm%96 4@>A2?J 925 D4965F=65 2 H6==?6DD G:D:E u63] af — E96 D2>6 52J r924@? 2?5 wFCE25@ H6C6 DE@AA65 2E E96 3@C56C H:E9 E96 :?;FC65 2?5 F?C6DA@?D:G6 H@>2? :? E96 324< @7 E96 G2?]k^Am
kAm“w@H6G6C[” E96 277:52G:E DE2E6DkDEC@?8m[k^DEC@?8m “p?86=:E2 r924@? 42==65 2D<:?8 E@ C6D4965F=6]”k^Am
