A New Mexico woman, Deana Thetford, was arrested for the murder of her husband, Craig Thetford, after his body was discovered in the carport of their home. The discovery followed her bizarre claims about his disappearance, which were later contradicted by the evidence and her own daughter’s testimony.
Husband’s Disappearance and False Claims
Craig Thetford, 60, was reported missing by his family in May after they hadn’t heard from him since January. His wife, Deana, initially told the Otero County Sheriff’s deputies that he had gone to Mexico with a new girlfriend.
She even claimed he took a large sum of money, believed to be around $1.5 million, with him, supposedly storing it in safes at home. However, Deana could not open the safes to prove her story.
After further questioning, Deana’s story changed multiple times. She first stated that her husband had broken his phone and got a new one, but then claimed he had gone to Texas to visit his mother, though this detail was disputed by Craig’s sister.
Disturbing Details and Confessions
As the investigation continued, police learned from Deana’s daughter that the couple had fought shortly before Craig’s disappearance. According to the daughter, Deana confessed that she had pushed her husband down a flight of stairs during an argument.
She further claimed that in a fit of rage, she shot Craig several times. Afterward, she allegedly wrapped his body in a rug and plastic, used a tractor to drag it to the carport, and left it there for weeks.
Body Found in Carport
On June 17, a search warrant was executed at the Thetford home, where Craig’s body was discovered in the carport, as Deana had described. His body was wrapped in black plastic, blankets, and rugs, and covered in a white powder and mothballs.
An autopsy confirmed that Craig had been shot multiple times and had been dead for weeks or even months. His death was ruled a homicide.
Evidence and Financial Discoveries
Further investigation revealed that Deana Thetford had purchased property in Seymour, Texas, using cash, which raised suspicions about her sudden wealth.
When police opened the safes, they found $84,200 in cash, along with firearms and ammunition, further supporting the idea that Deana may have had financial motives for her husband’s death.
Arrest and Charges
Deana Thetford was arrested in Texas, where she had relocated, and is currently held without bond at the Wichita County Jail. She is facing charges of first-degree murder and tampering with evidence in connection to her husband’s death.
