Executive Summary
- A grand jury indicted Darren Munoz and Julio Zamora, both 19, for a double homicide in Clovis.
- Munoz is accused of hiring Zamora to kill his parents, Oscar and Dina Munoz, to collect an inheritance.
- Police report the victims were shot while sleeping on December 15.
- Both suspects are being held without bond pending trial.
A grand jury in Clovis, New Mexico, has indicted two teenagers in connection with an alleged murder-for-hire plot that resulted in the shooting deaths of a married couple earlier this month.
Darren Munoz, 19, and Julio Zamora, 19, have been formally charged regarding the deaths of Munoz’s father and stepmother, Oscar and Dina Munoz. According to the Clovis Police Department, Munoz is accused of hiring his friend, Zamora, to kill his parents.
Investigators allege that the motive for the double homicide was financial gain. Police statements indicate that Munoz believed he would collect an inheritance once his parents were "out of the picture." According to law enforcement findings, Zamora allegedly shot the couple on December 15 while they were sleeping.
Following the grand jury’s decision, Munoz faces two counts of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and criminal solicitation. Zamora has been charged with two counts of murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
Judicial Proceedings
Both suspects are currently being held without bond as they await trial. The indictment formally advances the case to the prosecution phase, where the state must prove the allegations of premeditation and conspiracy beyond a reasonable doubt. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
