New Mexico Man Faces Life Sentence in Sword Murder Trial of Grace Jennings

In Santa Fe, New Mexico, a trial has commenced for Isaac Apodaca, a 30-year-old man accused of orchestrating the brutal murder of 21-year-old Grace Jennings using a sword. The case against Apodaca is based on evidence that he conspired with his girlfriend, Kiara McCulley, to kill Jennings in October 2022.

On the night of the incident, officers were called to a property where Apodaca lived with McCulley after receiving a call from his mother. Upon arrival, they discovered Jennings' body inside a detached garage on the premises. The victim had suffered multiple stab wounds and incised injuries that appeared to have been inflicted postmortem, including what seemed like the removal of her left ear.

McCulley was present at the scene when police arrived and was found with cuts on her hands covered in bandages. Additionally, investigators noted that a washing machine was running inside the house, suggesting an attempt to clean up evidence. A long sword, heavily stained with blood, was discovered near Jennings' body.

In 2025, McCulley entered a guilty plea as part of a deal with prosecutors, agreeing to testify truthfully against Apodaca in exchange for a reduced sentence of 30 years. During her testimony, she admitted to having angry thoughts about Jennings and recalled conversations with Apodaca where he pressured her into carrying out the murder.

The prosecution has presented evidence indicating that Apodaca and McCulley communicated extensively before the killing through text messages, with Apodaca reportedly coercing his girlfriend to take action. The defense is challenging certain pieces of evidence, including jail phone calls made by Apodaca while in custody.

Medical examiner Dr. Emily Helmrich testified during Day 4 of the trial that Jennings had suffered at least 12 stab wounds and eight incised injuries, none of which were immediately fatal. This suggests that Jennings endured a prolonged period of suffering before succumbing to her injuries. The examination also revealed that some of the wounds were inflicted after death.

The trial has already featured testimony from witnesses such as Lani McCulley, Kiara's mother, who described seeing the double-handed sword with a 36-inch blade delivered by Amazon two days prior to Jennings' murder. Detective Brandon Deetz and Officer Maria Tena also provided critical evidence, including photographs of the crime scene that depicted the chaotic state of the garage where the fatal attack occurred.

As the trial continues, both sides are presenting their cases in an effort to establish a clear narrative around Apodaca's alleged role in orchestrating Jennings' murder. The outcome could determine whether Apodaca faces life imprisonment or a lesser sentence if found guilty on all counts.