On November 21, 2020, Kathleen Lorraine Vigil, also known as Kathleen Jaramillo, a 57-year-old native of Los Alamos, New Mexico, was found dead at her home in the San Ildefonso Pueblo area of Santa Fe County. The incident began early in the morning when a 911 call was placed by a male caller who claimed to have shot and killed Jaramillo, identifying her as his girlfriend.
The call was traced back to a number held by Leonard Francis Kieren, 60, of Buckeye, Arizona, who was subsequently identified as the prime suspect in her murder.
According to the 911 call recordings and affidavits, Kieren called 911 at 6:52 a.m. stating that he had come home to pick up his girlfriend to leave town for Thanksgiving, only to find that she had been cheating on him. He claimed that she pulled a 9 mm handgun on him, which he knocked out of her hands, slammed her on the bed, and then shot her in the head. In the recording, Kieren refused to provide his name to the dispatcher, saying, “You will find that out.” He made another 911 call at 9:52 a.m. to clarify that he had hit the victim in the face, put the gun back in her hand, covered her with a blanket, and left the residence.
Santa Fe County Sheriff's deputies arrived at the scene on Little Bird Road in San Ildefonso Pueblo and found Jaramillo's body. The investigation revealed that Kieren had a history with the victim, having known her since high school and more recently living with her as a roommate while he was getting back on his feet. Another man, who had been dating Jaramillo for about a month, reported that Kieren had called the victim and threatened to break into the residence because he did not have a key.
Leonard Francis Kieren was described as a 60-year-old man, 6'2” tall, weighing 250 lbs, with brown hair and hazel eyes. He was believed to be armed and dangerous and was last seen driving a white 2004 Dodge Dually pickup with Arizona license plate CFT9569, possibly towing a fifth-wheel camper/trailer. The authorities believed he had fled to the area of Graham County, Arizona.
The search for Kieren culminated on December 4, 2020, when members of the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force attempted to execute a federal arrest warrant in a remote area of Tonopah, Arizona. During the arrest attempt, Kieren fired at the officers, who returned fire, resulting in Kieren being shot and pronounced dead at the scene. No federal agents or law enforcement personnel were injured in the incident.
In summary, Kathleen Jaramillo-Vigil's death was a result of a violent altercation with her boyfriend, Leonard Francis Kieren, who confessed to the crime in multiple 911 calls. Kieren's subsequent flight to Arizona and his eventual confrontation with law enforcement led to his death, bringing a tragic end to the case without the need for a trial.
