Desirae Lussow, a 36-year-old woman from Rio Rancho, New Mexico, tragically lost her life on April 3, 2024, in a domestic violence incident. The event unfolded during a family car ride, where Lussow was shot in the back of the head by her husband, Pablo Padilla, while their three children were present in the vehicle.
The incident stemmed from an argument involving Lussow's 15-year-old son, who had illegally driven one of the family's vehicles to Rio Rancho the previous week.
As the family was returning to retrieve the vehicle, a dispute erupted between the teenager and his stepfather, Padilla. When Lussow attempted to defend her son by hitting Padilla, he allegedly pulled over, grabbed an AR-15 rifle from beside the driver's seat, and shot her.
After the shooting, Padilla drove the family, including their 3-year-old and 15-month-old children, to the Sandoval Regional Medical Center in Rio Rancho. Lussow was later transferred to the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque, where she succumbed to her injuries.
Pablo Padilla, 35, was arrested and booked into the Sandoval County Detention Center. He faces multiple charges, including an open count of murder, reckless driving, and drug-related offenses. At the time of his arrest, Padilla was found in possession of methamphetamine.
The case has drawn attention to Padilla's prior legal troubles. Court records reveal that he was already facing drug charges from a previous incident in the summer of 2023 and was scheduled for trial in June 2024. Additionally, Padilla had been charged with child abuse in 2021 for allegedly abducting the couple's now 3-year-old child during an altercation, though that case was dismissed due to the absence of the officer in court.
District Attorney Barbara Romo expressed the devastating impact of this tragedy on the children who witnessed their mother's killing. The district attorney's office has stated its intention to push for Padilla's continued detention pending trial.
Funeral services for Desirae Lussow are scheduled to be held on Thursday, April 25, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at the Las Vegas Christian Center in Las Vegas, New Mexico.
