New Mexico Woman Sentenced to Over 20 Years for Husbands' Murder in Carport

A New Mexico woman, Deana Thetford, has been sentenced to more than two decades in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder and related charges in the death of her husband. The body of Craig Thetford was discovered wrapped in plastic and other materials in their carport on June 17, 2025, following a welfare check prompted by his family's concerns about his disappearance.

Thetford initially faced first-degree murder charges carrying a mandatory life sentence but negotiated a plea deal with prosecutors. Under this agreement, she admitted to tampering with evidence and forgery in addition to second-degree murder. The judge sentenced her to 18 months for the forgery charge, three years for tampering with evidence, and 15 years for the murder charge, followed by three years of probation.

The investigation began when Thetford's family reported Craig missing after five months without contact. She initially claimed he had left for Mexico but was unable to provide details about his whereabouts or the combinations to their safes containing over a million dollars in cash. Her daughter later revealed that Thetford confessed to killing her husband out of rage and struggling with moving his body before disposing of it in the carport.

A medical examiner confirmed that Craig Thetford died from multiple gunshot wounds, concluding the case as one of murder rather than suicide or accident.