Police are investigating the murder of a New Mexico woman who was allegedly stabbed to death with a three-foot metal sword by her ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend.
Kiara McCulley, 19, and her boyfriend Isaac Apodaca have been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of Grace Jennings, 21, who police say was stabbed to death in the garage where the couple lives.
Police arrived at the scene on the 5000 block of Jaguar Drive around 2 p.m. Saturday after receiving a call from Apodaca’s mother that McCulley had killed a woman in the garage, according to a Santa Fe New Mexican criminal complaint.
Jennings’ body was found in the garage near a “bloody sword”. Her body had “multiple injuries suggesting she was cut or stabbed with a sharp object” and injuries “attributed to attempts at decapitation.”
“We collected a sword, and it’s a metal sword,” Santa Fe Police Captain Aaron Ortiz told the local news outlet. “I can’t be specific about where it came from; this is still under investigation.’
McCulley was spotted by police in the backyard but quickly fled the scene. She was later arrested along with Apodaca – who had also called the police to report the murder.
Grace Jennings’ body was found in a garage in New Mexico on Saturday. Police said the garage is where her ex-lover lives with his new girlfriend. A bloody sword was found near her body
Kiara McCulley, 19, and her boyfriend Isaac Apodaca have been charged with first-degree murder in connection with Jennings’ death
Jennings’ body was discovered in a garage on Block 5000 of Jaguar Drive (above). The garage is separate from the main house where McCulley’s mother lives. Jennings had stayed with the couple overnight, according to Apodaca
The night before Jennings’ body was discovered, she had asked her ex-lover Apodaca if she could stay in the garage with him and his new girlfriend at McCulley’s mother’s house.
McCulley and Jennings stayed in the same bed, according to Apodaca. The next morning, McCulley told Jennings and Apodaca to leave.
Apodaca claimed he left the garage for two minutes to use the bathroom in the main house, and when he returned Jennings was dead.
“I did it,” McCulley reportedly told him. Apodaca claimed he then ran to call the police after telling his mother.
McCulley later told police she had no recollection of killing Jennings because of her undiagnosed multiple personality disorder.
“McCulley said she was partially confident that Ms. Jennings was dead but could not remember what happened to her,” the complaint said.
It was later discovered that Jennings was immediately romantically involved with McCulley and Apodaca.
Police said Jennings’ body had multiple stab wounds and trauma that reflected an intention to decapitate her
The criminal complaint said that Jennings was once involved with McCulley and Apodaca
Apodaca didn’t admit his alleged involvement to police, instead telling investigators that McCulley had been plotting to kill his ex-girlfriend for years.
However, according to the local news outlet, a search was conducted on his cell phone on Saturday which revealed the truth.
Police uncovered text messages between Apodaca and McCulley, who conspired to kill the 21-year-old in her sleep.
“The messages…described how Mr. Apodaca and [McCulley] would “clean up the mess” by using hydrogen peroxide and an ice maker to get it out,” the complaint said.
McCulley said Apodaca told her she would rise in the secret organization she is in called Ghost, which tries to take part in sex crimes if she kills his ex-lover, police said.
She also admitted to having dreams about killing Jennings.
The Santa Fe Attorney’s Office filed a request for remand for McCulley and Apodaca on Tuesday. A hearing will take place at a later date.
Jennings’ family is in disbelief at her death, saying the “community has suffered an indescribable loss
Jennings’ family is in disbelief at her death, saying the “community has suffered an indescribable loss.”
Family member Kacey Jennings remembered her as “the definition of beauty.”
“Grace is the definition of beauty. Grace is something we do not deserve, but it is given to us so willingly. Grace is so loved,” Kacey wrote on Facebook.
“This weekend our niece Grace was taken from everyone who knew and loved her. Would you please keep our family in your prayers?’
A GoFundMe has been set up to cover funeral arrangements and to help the 21-year-old’s mother during the “unimaginably difficult time”.
As of Wednesday afternoon, $15,240 was raised, beating the $15,000 goal.