Woman takes plea deal in 2023 Santa Fe murder, faces 30 years in prison
SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – It was a bizarre case out of Santa Fe where police say a couple conspired and killed a woman as part of a 'secret organization.' One of the suspects took a plea deal on Monday as prosecutors gear up for trial for the second suspect.
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'This is one of the most unusual cases I've ever encountered,' said Haley Murphy, deputy district attorney for Santa Fe County. 'What happened to Grace is horrific and has shocked law enforcement and has shocked members of this office since the day it came in and we started approving search warrants.
Santa Fe Police said Kiara McCulley and Isaac Apodaca killed Grace Jennings in 2022. According to a criminal complaint, McCulley and Apodaca exchanged text messages talking about killing Jennings and how they would clean it up. Police say Apodaca also texted McCulley saying if she killed Jennings, she would move up the 'ranks' in an alleged secret organization.
'The facts and the stories that were told that were told by McCulley and Apodaca were very unusual, involving elements of vigilante groups or that Grace was somehow a sex trafficker that does not seem to have any basis in fact or reality,' said Murphy. 'There's many elements of the ongoing investigation and the case that I can't speak to but I do feel saying that that particular allegation is one that we've never found to have any basis in fact or reality.'
On Monday, there was a big development in the case with McCulley admitting to her role in the murder. She pleaded guilty to aggravated murder in the second degree and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. She now faces 30 years in prison. 'We're grateful to have some measure of justice today in the case against Kiara,' said Murphy.
She said the plea deal guarantees there is no appeal after trial or incompetency challenges. It also requires strong cooperation from McCulley including her testifying against Apodaca in his upcoming trial.
'It really is a case that has shocked the community, shocked law enforcement, and has left a family devastated,' said Murphy. 'The family has talked at length to what a kind-hearted person Grace was and that her favorite color was purple. And those are two things we are keeping in mind.'
Apodaca is set to go to trial in April. krqe News 13 reached out to McCulley's defense attorney for comment on the plea but it was after business hours.
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