Background: The home in Clovis, N.M., where Oscar Steve Munoz and Dina Munoz were found shot to death on Dec. 15 (Google Maps). Insets (left to right): Darren Munoz and Julio Zamora (Curry County Jail).
A teenager from New Mexico has been charged with first-degree murder following allegations that he conspired with a friend to kill his parents for inheritance money.
The Clovis Police Department arrested 19-year-old Darren Munoz and 18-year-old Julio Zamora on Monday. The arrest came after officers responded to a reported burglary at the Munoz residence on York Drive in Clovis, New Mexico, early that morning. The police were alerted via a 911 call. Upon arrival, Darren Munoz met the officers and reportedly assured them that “everything was fine.” Despite his reassurance, the officers stated their intention to check on his father, Oscar Steve Munoz, 58, and stepmother, Dina Munoz, 71.
Darren Munoz initially resisted the officers’ entry, citing his parents’ habit of sleeping unclothed. However, he eventually permitted them inside, where they discovered both parents had been shot in the head.
Dina Munoz was pronounced dead at the scene, while Oscar Munoz was transported to a local hospital, where he later died from his wounds.
During questioning, Darren Munoz claimed his parents had just returned from an anniversary trip. He stated that he went to bed between 9 and 10 p.m. and was awakened by the sound of the garage door alarm. However, according to the arrest affidavit reviewed by Law&Crime, Munoz falsely claimed to be the 911 caller and “feigned confusion” when asked about his reluctance to let police enter the home.
Detectives confronted Munoz with inconsistencies in his story, particularly questioning how he could hear the garage alarm from the other side of the house but not the gunshots in the nearby bedroom. The affidavit noted that there were no signs of forced entry, and nothing appeared to have been stolen from the home.
After speaking to Darren Munoz, police questioned his girlfriend, who reported that she spent the weekend at the Munoz residence while his parents were away and returned to her home on Sunday morning.
According to the affidavit, a mutual friend of Darren Munoz and his girlfriend called the Clovis Police Department and told a sergeant that “there had been a plan in place for several weeks or months” between Darren Munoz, Zamora, and another friend to “kill Darren’s parents.” The alleged motive was to “take over the parents’ belongings/finances” once Oscar and Dina Munoz were “out of the picture.”
Police said that the same friend saw Darren Munoz at another person’s home with a gun, which made the homeowner “uncomfortable.” The friend told police that Darren Munoz was allegedly planning to trade an AR rifle for a “ghost Glock,” which does not have a serial number. Security video obtained by police allegedly showed Darren Munoz carrying a gun within hours of his parents being shot.
Darren Munoz’s girlfriend allegedly told police, “Darren had wanted his father’s money and Julio had agreed to kill Darren’s parents in exchange for the money when Darren got some.” According to police, Darren Munoz believed that his father “owned the Allsup’s convenience store franchise.” Local ABC affiliate KVII reported that Oscar Munoz was a regional manager for Allsup’s convenience stores.
The girlfriend also provided the alleged plan for Zamora to come to the Munoz home, get the murder weapon from Darren Munoz after meeting in the garage, and “shoot Darren’s parents in their bed.”
A search of Darren Munoz’s phone records uncovered an alleged text conversation between Darren Munoz and Zamora leading up to the alleged murder, including “video snaps” after it was carried out.
After the double homicide made the news on Monday morning, the friend called Darren Munoz’s girlfriend, who said, “Darren had done it.”
Police said that Zamora was apprehended at his home the same day. During his post-Miranda interview with police, he allegedly said that “Darren had asked and solicited him to kill” his parents. Zamora had a Glock on him when he was arrested and reportedly admitted to police that it was the gun used in the crime.
Darren Munoz was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and criminal solicitation to commit murder. He is being held at the Curry County Jail without bond. His next court date is Dec. 22.
Zamora was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. He is being held at the Curry County Jail without bond and is scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 22.
