On a tragic day in Lovington, New Mexico, the life of 36-year-old Cynthia Nava Pérez was cut short. On May 28, 2019, inside the small travel trailer she shared with her partner, a verbal argument escalated to a fatal conclusion. Her partner, Vicente Perez, also 36 at the time, fired a. 22 caliber rifle, inflicting a mortal gunshot wound upon Cynthia.
The tragedy was compounded by the presence of three of their four children, who witnessed the horrific event unfold in the confines of their home.
Following the shooting, authorities quickly identified Vicente Perez as a person of interest. He was located in an adjacent trailer shortly after the incident and was taken into custody without delay. The investigation led to Perez being charged with Murder in the Second Degree and Tampering with Evidence. He also faced a separate charge for being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Perez has remained in custody since the day of the incident.
Cynthia, born in Hobbs and a lifelong resident of Lovington, was a graduate of Lovington High School. Those who knew her remember a vibrant woman who was the life of the party and had a talent for making people laugh. She was a devoted mother who enjoyed decorating, dancing, and, most of all, spending time with her children. Her sudden and violent death left a void in the lives of her family and the community she had always called home.
The legal process concluded on March 25, 2021, when a Lovington District Court jury found Vicente Perez guilty of Cynthia's murder after deliberating for only two hours. For his crimes, he faced a potential sentence of up to 21 years in prison. The conviction brought a measure of justice for Cynthia's surviving loved ones, including her five children, her father, a brother, and a sister.
