N.M. Teen Accused of Hiring Friend to Get Parents ‘Out of the Picture’ So He Could Claim Inheritance: Affidavit

A New Mexico teenager is accused of hiring a friend to kill his father and stepmother so that he could claim his inheritance, per an affidavit for his arrest.

Darren Munoz, 19, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder and criminal solicitation in connection with the deaths of his father Oscar Munoz, 58, and his stepmother Dina, 71, according to the Clovis Police Department.

Julio Zamora, 18, is also charged with two counts of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder, police said.

Police responded to a call about a burglary in progress at a home in Clovis on Dec. 15 just before 5 a.m.  When officers arrived, they found the garage door open. Munoz allegedly told officers that “everything had been fine there,” according to an arrest warrant affidavit obtained by PEOPLE.

When one of the officers said he planned to check on Munoz’s parents, Munoz allegedly told the officer he didn’t want him to go inside because his parents slept in the nude. Munoz eventually led the officer inside and Munoz went into their room, per the affidavit.

When he came back out of the room, his hands were allegedly covered in blood.

The officers then entered the room and found Munoz’s father and stepmother shot, the affidavit states. Oscar was “still showing signs of life although he had suffered a gunshot wound to the head,” according to the affidavit. Dina was pronounced dead at the scene.

Munoz allegedly told investigators that his parents spent the weekend in San Antonio for their anniversary and he stayed home alone. According to the affidavit, he said that when his parents returned, they brought home food and he went to bed between 9 and 10 p.m. before he woke up hours later after hearing the garage door alarm.

“He would then lie to investigators about whether he called 911 or not,” the affidavit states. “However, 911 call logs would indicate Darren had called and when confronted with this information Darren admitted he did in fact call 911, reporting the [alleged] burglary.”

According to police, Munoz told officers he had been spending time with his girlfriend, who was seen by witnesses at the home over the weekend. An acquaintance of the couple later contacted police alleging that there had been “a plan in place for several weeks or months” between Munoz and two of his friends to kill the teen’s parents, per the affidavit.

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The acquaintance claimed that “Darren wanted to take over the parents belongings/finances and this is how they would do it,” the affidavit states, adding that the acquaintance alleged “there had been a plan for Darren to trade an AR rifle for a ghost glock or a pistol without a serial number.”

In an interview with police, Munoz’s girlfriend claimed he “wanted his father’s money” and Zamora “agreed to kill Darren’s parents in exchange for the money when Darren got some,” per the affidavit.

Investigators alleged the “belief” had been that Oscar owned a convenience store franchise and that if he was dead, the money would end up with his son.

The alleged plan, according to his girlfriend, was for Zamora to go through the garage and then shoot Munoz’s parents in their bed, police said in the affidavit.

While executing a search warrant on Munoz’s phone, investigators allegedly discovered a conversation thread between Zamora and Munoz where Munoz said his parents weren’t home yet but were on their way.

“Darren also told Julio his parents would let him know when they were on their way and he would relay this info to Julio,” per the affidavit.

Home security footage also allegedly showed Munoz hiding a pistol in his waistband around 5 p.m. the night before the killings happened.

Zamora was later arrested leaving his home, and allegedly had a ghost gun in his possession, police said.

“The reason for the murder was motivated by money. Darren believed he would inherit a large sum of money if his mother and stepmother were out of the picture,” the affidavit claims.

Both teens are being held at the Curry County Adult Detention Center. They have both pleaded not guilty.

Munoz’s next court appearance is set for Dec. 22, while Zamora’s hearing is set for Dec. 23.