A 19-year-old New Mexico teenager has been charged with two counts of murder after authorities alleged he arranged for a friend to kill his father and stepmother.
Darren Munoz is facing multiple charges, including two counts of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and criminal solicitation, following the deaths of his father, Oscar Steve Munoz, 58, and stepmother, Dina Munoz, 71, in Clovis, New Mexico.
According to an arrest affidavit, investigators believe Munoz planned the killings with two friends over a period of several weeks or months. Police allege the motive was financial, stating Munoz believed he would inherit a significant amount of money if his parents were no longer alive.
Officers were called to the family home around 4:50 a.m. on Monday after a report of a possible burglary, a call authorities say was made by Munoz himself. When police arrived, he reportedly told officers that everything was fine and discouraged them from checking on his parents.
Concerned by his behavior, officers entered the home, where they discovered Dina Munoz deceased and Oscar Munoz critically injured. He was transported to a hospital, where he later died.
Investigators allege that one of Munoz’s friends, identified as Julio Zamora, entered the home earlier that morning and fatally shot both victims while they were asleep. Zamora was later arrested in connection with the case.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue to review evidence and court proceedings move forward.
