Opinion ID: 2622743
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Murder in the Commission of Kidnapping

Text: {42} A first degree murder becomes death eligible if it was committed with intent to kill in the commission of or attempt to commit kidnaping. Section 31-20A-5(B). The elements of murder in the commission of a kidnapping are: (1) the crime of kidnapping or attempted kidnapping was committed; (2) the victim was murdered in the commission of the kidnapping; and (3) the defendant had the intent to kill. UJI 14-7015; Allen, 2000-NMSC-002, ¶ 72. This does not require the defendant to have the specific intent to kidnap and then murder the victim, but rather only the intent to kill during a kidnapping. See § 31-20A-5(B) ; Allen, 2000-NMSC-002, ¶ 74. As with the murder-of-a-witness aggravating factor, we review the evidence of murder in the commission of a kidnapping under the probable cause standard. We find there is probable cause to believe all three elements are present. [8] {43} The first element satisfies probable cause because Mrs. Tafoya was found with her hands bound behind her back and she had severe injuries from which she ultimately died. See NMSA 1978, § 30-4-1(A)(4) (1995) (Kidnapping is the unlawful . . . restraining . . . or confining of a person, by force . . . with intent . . . to inflict death [or] physical injury . . . .). {44} In regard to the second element, Defendant argues probable cause cannot be met because the State cannot show the killing was committed in the commission of the kidnapping. He argues the defensive wounds on Mrs. Tafoya's hands indicate she sustained all her injuries prior to being restrained. Since there was no evidence of the timing of her other wounds, Defendant concludes, she may have received the mortal blows before the kidnapping and not in the commission of the kidnapping. We are not persuaded. {45} Mrs. Tafoya was alive when she was found, leaving open the possibility she suffered some of her more serious wounds after being restrained. Even Defendant admits it is a reasonable interpretation to conclude some of Mrs. Tafoya's injuries were inflicted after she was kidnapped. Furthermore, it seems improbable that Defendant would administer all of the mortal blows to Mrs. Tafoya and only tie her up afterwards. {46} The third element is also satisfied as there is probable cause that Defendant had the intent to kill when he murdered Mrs. Tafoya. Defendant's motive and the manner in which Mrs. Tafoya was killed suggests an intentional killing. See Rojo, 1999-NMSC-001, ¶ 34 (stating motive and manner of killing supports deliberate intention to take life); State v. Griffin, 116 N.M. 689, 695, 866 P.2d 1156, 1162 (1993) (holding close range shooting involving multiple gun shots supports intent to kill). Mrs. Tafoya was stabbed multiple times to the neck and chest. She was beaten so severely her eye came out of place. She had defensive wounds on her hands. When found, she told her daughter that the perpetrator beat her, she begged him to stop, but he just laughed at her. There is probable cause to believe Defendant had the intent to kill. {47} We acknowledge Defendant's argument that the force used to commit the murder must be separate and distinct from the force used to commit the kidnapping; it cannot be one unitary act. See Henderson, 109 N.M. at 661, 789 P.2d at 609. In the case at hand, there is ample evidence of a separate and distinct kidnapping occurring prior to the murder. See Allen, 2000-NMSC-002, ¶¶ 67-69 (finding murder and kidnapping were distinct where all of the elements of kidnapping were met prior to strangulation); State v. Jacobs, 2000-NMSC-026, ¶ 57, 129 N.M. 448, 10 P.3d 127; cf. State v. Foster, 1999-NMSC-007, ¶ 30, 126 N.M. 646, 974 P.2d 140 (kidnapping and murder are not unitary conduct when the force used to complete kidnapping is different from the force used to kill the victim). Here, the force used to commit the kidnapping was tying up the victim. The force used to kill her was stabbing her in the chest. Accordingly, this conduct is not unitary and Henderson is inapposite.