Carmen Deann Kester was a beloved wife, mother, and grandmother described by her family as a "light to many" whose smile could light up a room. The 45-year-old White woman from Rio Rancho, New Mexico, loved decorating for every occasion and was a devoted supporter at her children's sporting events, choir concerts, and cheerleading activities. She was survived by her husband, five children, five grandchildren, her mother, and numerous siblings.
On the morning of March 8, 2022, first
responders were called to Carmen’s home in the 1200 block of Mirador Loop NE. Inside, they discovered that she had died from multiple gunshot wounds. Investigators quickly identified her 15-year-old nephew, Brayden Baldree, as a person of interest in her death.
Police determined that after the shooting, Baldree had fled the scene in his aunt’s red SUV. A court petition later alleged that he had attempted to hide her body before leaving. When officers located the stolen vehicle with Baldree behind the wheel, he led them on a chase across the city. The pursuit, which involved a police helicopter and assistance from New Mexico State Police and Bernalillo Police, prompted several Rio Rancho schools to implement a temporary, precautionary lockout. The chase ended when Baldree was taken into custody near Sundt Road and Pearl Drive.
Baldree was charged with murder, tampering with evidence, unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, aggravated fleeing a law enforcement officer, and reckless driving. He was booked into the Bernalillo County Juvenile Detention Center, as Sandoval County did not have its own juvenile facility. Prosecutors announced early on that they would seek to have Baldree face adult sanctions if convicted.
The legal case proceeded with a number of delays, including a stay for a competency review to be conducted. In February 2025, a Sandoval County judge ruled that Baldree, who was by then 18 years old, would be sentenced as an adult if found guilty. The judge cited the violent and serious nature of the crime in his determination. As of February 2025, the criminal case against Brayden Baldree remains active in court.
