2023 abuse case gets trial dates

Fatal abuse case to go to trial

Angelita Chacon and Patricia Hurtado of Rio Rancho pleaded not guilty to abuse of a client resulting in death during their arraignment hearing. Both cases will head to trial sometime next year, though the date has not been determined. They were arrested on May 16 for the abuse of a client which resulted in death […]

Hundreds of abuse cases unearthed in investigation after Mary Melero death

After a tortured Rio Rancho woman named Mary Melero was smuggled to the Mexican border with serious injuries in February and died in April from her injuries, the New Mexico Department of Health and Adult Protective Services at the Aging & Long-Term Services Department joined forces to establish a consolidated Central Intake Reporting system for […]

Mary Melero death partly tied to Medicaid fraud conspiracy

Keyona Zamora pleaded guilty to three counts of Medicaid Fraud and three counts of falsification of documents in mid-December in a case that is related to the those against caretakers accused of causing the death of a developmentally disabled woman, Mary Melero. The details of Zamora’s crimes were released by the New Mexico Department of Justice […]

Medicaid fraud added to charges against women accused of causing Melero death

Women accused of causing the death of Mary Melero are now facing Medicaid fraud charges on t…

Death by abuse case to go to arraignment for Chacon and Hurtado

According to affidavit of arrest warrants issued by police to the Sandoval County Magistrate Court, Angelita Chacon, Patricia Hurtado and Luz Scott of Rio Rancho were arrested on May 16 for the abuse of a client which resulted in death on Feb. 27. Details from FBI and border officers revealed the injuries to Mary Melero, […]

Attorney general believes DD waiver program needs more resources, oversight

New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez on Thursday said he has “very serious concerns” that Mary Melero isn’t the only developmentally disabled person on the state’s waiver program that fell victim to abuse. He called the 38-year-old woman’s death, allegedly at the hands of her caretakers, “a wake up call.” Torrez suggested several reforms to […]

Three arrested for death of abused, disabled client; AG calls it torture

According to affidavit of arrest warrants issued by police to the Sandoval County Magistrate Court, Angelita Chacon, Patricia Hurtado and Luz Scott of Rio Rancho were arrested on May 16 for the abuse of a client which resulted in death on Feb. 27. Mary Melero, 38, was an intellectually developmentally disabled (IDD) adult. “The abuse […]

Additional details outlined in disabled woman’s death

Two caregivers and another person have been charged in the April death of a 38-year-old developmentally disabled woman who was found to have suffered “horrific” injuries related to abuse while in the state’s care. The abuse case is the one that led the state to terminate contracts with four health care providers involved and, on […]

RIO RANCHO — The abuse case against those charged in the death of Mary Melero is scheduled for trial, but it won’t happen until next year.

Angelita Chacon, 53, and Patricia Hurtado, 43, were indicted for neglect of Melero, a disabled woman in their charge, which resulted in her death in May 2023. Keyona Zamora, 32, pleaded guilty to Medicaid fraud tied to Melero’s death in December 2023.

While Zamora quickly plead guilty, her sentencing is pending until the trials of Chacon and Hurtado.

In addition to the abuse charges, Chacon and Hurtado also face Medicaid fraud charges.

The trial will begin with jury selection Sept. 10 with the trial scheduled for Sept. 11-26.

Potentially, Chacon and Hurtado could face a sentence of up to 30 years before they are eligible for parole, which is life in prison in New Mexico. Zamora could face anywhere from one to five years.

— Michaela Helean, Observer