Who murdered Jean Sturges in 1990? In the small town of Estancia, New Mexico, sixty-one-year-old Dorothy Jean Sturges, known to her friends and family simply as Jean, was a familiar and respected figure. Having moved to Estancia from Lubbock at the age of 21, she had spent four decades building a life there. Together with her husband, Charles 'Bozo' Sturges, she co-owned the local supermarket, Sturges Market, the only grocery store in town.
Her commitment to the community extended beyond the family business; in 1975, she made history as the first woman to be appointed to the Estancia Town Council, a role she served in for many years.
The evening of December 6, 1990, found Jean at home alone. Her husband, Charles, was away on a business trip in Santa Fe. He spoke with his wife by phone at 9:00 pm, a conversation that would be their last. Sometime after that call, an intruder or intruders forced their way into the Sturges' residence at 510 Highland Street. There were signs of forced entry at two different doors, suggesting a determined effort to get inside.
The following morning, December 7th, Jean's cleaning lady arrived to a disturbing scene. The television was still on, and Jean was found slumped forward in a cushioned armchair in her living room, clad in her housecoat. She had been shot through the back of the chair. A small hole in the upholstery and a slug found in the fireplace told part of the story. Further examination revealed that Jean had also suffered injuries to her chest, neck, and head, indicating a violent struggle had taken place before her death. Newspapers and magazines were scattered on the table in front of her, some with torn pages, hinting at a chaotic and frightening final few moments.
Investigators quickly determined that robbery was the likely motive. The home had been ransacked. In the bathroom, empty prescription pill bottles were strewn across the floor. Jean's dresser drawers were in disarray, with over eight hundred dollars in cash, a valuable Spanish medallion necklace, and a gold piece missing. Curiously, more valuable items, including various guns and other jewelry, were left untouched. This led authorities to believe the perpetrator or perpetrators may have been in a hurry, possibly panicking after the murder. The fact that the crime occurred while her husband was known to be out of town led police to suspect that the killer was someone familiar with the family's schedule. Despite the initial belief by the Torrance County Sheriff that the case would be solved, no viable suspects have ever been officially identified. The murder of Jean Sturges remains a cold case, a lingering shadow over the small community she served for so long.
