Graciela Acosta Licon, a 62-year-old woman of Hispanic ethnicity, tragically died on April 20, 2017, in El Paso, Texas. Her death was ruled a homicide by unspecified means. The circumstances surrounding her death were particularly gruesome: she was found decapitated in her apartment, which she shared with her son, Fernando Alarcon. The El Paso County Medical Examiner's report indicated that it was unclear whether she was killed before or after being decapitated.
Fernando Alarcon,
Graciela's 37-year-old son, was arrested and charged with her murder. He was found in La Mesa, New Mexico, the day after her body was discovered, driving a Jeep with a flat tire and carrying a rifle in the backseat. Alarcon was later extradited to El Paso and has been incarcerated since May 11, 2017. The case went to trial in April 2022, but ended in a mistrial due to the jury's inability to reach a verdict. In July 2023, Alarcon pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to 17 years in prison.
The investigation revealed that Graciela had not been heard from or seen for several days before her body was found. A friend of hers went to check on her and encountered Alarcon, who initially claimed that his mother was not home. After the friend threatened to call the police, Alarcon left the apartment with a gym bag. When officers entered the apartment, they found Graciela's body covered with a blanket and surrounded by broken glass. The autopsy report noted additional injuries, such as petechial hemorrhaging in the face consistent with asphyxiation, and abrasions on her chin and wrist.
The case drew significant attention due to its disturbing nature and the complex legal proceedings that followed. Alarcon's defense argued that he suffered from schizophrenia and experienced paranoia and delusions. Despite these claims, the court ultimately found him guilty of manslaughter. Graciela's death and the subsequent legal battles have left a lasting impact on her family and the community.
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