Do you know who murdered Judy and Thomas McKnight in 1984? In the quiet, rural landscape of Lincoln County, New Mexico, a grim discovery was made on November 15, 1984, that would leave a lasting mark on the community. Judy McKnight, a 38-year-old Caucasian woman, and her husband, Thomas "Cotton" McKnight, were found shot to death in the kitchen of their home on the Upper McKnight Ranch in Picacho. The couple, last seen alive two days earlier on November 13, had been killed in what investigators would describe as an "execution-style" slaying.
There were no signs of a forced entry into the McKnight's residence, leading authorities to believe that the victims likely knew their killer or killers and felt comfortable enough to let them into their home. The manner of their deaths was particularly brutal; Cotton was shot in the chest and head, while Judy was shot in the back. Evidence at the scene suggested a chilling sequence of events, with Judy possibly kneeling and holding her husband's head after he was first shot, before she too was fatally wounded. The finality of the act was underscored by an additional shot fired into each of them as they lay on the floor.
The initial investigation into the double homicide was a joint effort between the Lincoln County Sheriff's Department and the New Mexico State Police. However, the case proved to be complex and fraught with challenges. In August of 1985, an investigative grand jury was convened by the Twelfth Judicial District Attorney's Office in Lincoln County, but it did not result in any indictments, and a recommendation was made for the investigation to continue. The following month, the New Mexico Attorney General's Office and the State Police took over the inquiry.
Over the years, several individuals have been considered suspects or persons of interest in the McKnight murders, yet no arrests have ever been made. Among those named in various reports and case files are Phil Baiers, Anthony Fabry, Joe McKnight, and Donald “Poncho” McKnight. Another individual, a sheriff candidate named Charlie Cox, also came under scrutiny, partly due to a rumored affair with Judy McKnight and his alleged connection to a different murder. Despite these leads and the persistent efforts of law enforcement, the case eventually went cold, leaving the question of who killed Judy and Cotton McKnight unanswered. The brutal crime remains an unsolved mystery, a dark chapter in the history of Lincoln County.
