A 19-year-old man from Illinois has been sentenced to 45 years in prison after pleading guilty to the first-degree murder of his 20-year-old girlfriend, Mary Halcomb. Nathaniel N. Archuleta was convicted for killing Halcomb in South Peoria and attempting to make her death appear as a suicide by planting a note.
The Crime
On September 6, 2024, police responded to a call from a home on the 1400 block of South Griswold in Peoria, Illinois, where they found Halcomb’s body on the stairwell landing. She had suffered a gunshot wound to the neck and was holding a gun in her hand. First responders pronounced her dead at the scene.
Detectives found a post-it note in the downstairs bedroom, allegedly written by Halcomb. It read: “I, Mary Elyce Halcomb, promise to never break Nathaniel Archuleta’s heart, and if I do, Nathaniel Archuleta has every right to euthanize me, vice versa, I love you.” The note appeared to suggest that Halcomb’s death was a suicide, but further investigation revealed inconsistencies.
The Investigation
While the note initially pointed to suicide, detectives discovered a blood trail leading from the bedroom to the stairwell landing, suggesting that Halcomb’s body had been moved. Archuleta initially claimed that Halcomb had taken her own life, but later changed his story, saying that he was cleaning his gun when it accidentally discharged.
However, in a later conversation with a fellow inmate, Archuleta admitted to shooting his girlfriend after “catching her texting another man.”
The Emotional Impact
During the plea hearing, Halcomb’s family spoke out about the devastating impact her death had on their lives. Her family described the overwhelming sense of loss, grief, and heartbreak. They spoke of sleepless nights, nightmares, and the emotional toll of losing a loved one so suddenly and tragically.
Halcomb’s family expressed that her dreams, especially her desire to become a nurse, were cut short, and the loss of those dreams would forever haunt them.
Halcomb was described as compassionate, kind, and dedicated, particularly as the oldest sibling who was always ready to help at home. Her obituary noted her goal of becoming a nurse, driven by her desire to care for others and make a difference.
The Sentence
Archuleta was sentenced to 45 years in prison for the first-degree murder of Mary Halcomb. The Peoria County State Attorney’s Office released a statement following the hearing, emphasizing the impact of Archuleta’s actions on Halcomb’s family and expressing that his crime was both selfish and unforgivable.
The court also highlighted that justice had been served, but the emotional scars left on Halcomb’s family would remain forever.
