On October 1, 2015, 69-year-old Karen Cugnini was found deceased from a single gunshot wound at her residence in Flora Vista, New Mexico. Cugnini, a former Durango resident, was known for her involvement in the local community, including cattle ranching and participation in 4-H, Fiesta Days, and rodeo events.
Investigations revealed that Cugnini's 2003 Ford F-150 was stolen and later recovered in Kirkland, New Mexico.
Authorities identified 50-year-old Rick Stallings of Farmington as the primary suspect. On October 3, 2015, Stallings was apprehended at a residence in Farmington after a standoff with law enforcement, during which he and two others initially refused to surrender. The situation escalated, prompting the use of flash grenades before Stallings was taken into custody.
Stallings faced multiple charges, including first-degree murder, aggravated burglary with a deadly weapon, larceny over $20,000, tampering with evidence, larceny of a firearm, unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, possession of a firearm by a felon, disposing of stolen property, theft of identity, and three counts of theft of credit cards. He was held without bail at the San Juan County Detention Center.
In December 2017, Stallings was found guilty of first-degree murder and other related charges. He was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for the murder conviction, along with additional sentences for the other offenses.
Stallings appealed his convictions, arguing that he did not receive a fair trial due to the court's refusal to appoint a third attorney after he dismissed his public defenders. In August 2020, the New Mexico Supreme Court upheld his convictions, stating that his refusal to explicitly waive his right to counsel was of no consequence, as he waived counsel by conduct when he chose to proceed pro se after adequate warning.
