In the quiet community of Capulin, Colorado, a violent outburst on a January night in 2017 shattered the rural tranquility and left a family torn apart. Thirty-year-old Marissa Herrera-Cervantes, a resident of nearby La Jara, was caught in the deadly unfolding of events at a residence on County Road Y. On that Sunday evening, January 15th, law enforcement from the Conejos County Sheriff's Office were called to the scene of a shooting.
Upon their arrival, they discovered a grim tableau.
Four individuals had been struck by gunfire. Two men, Guadalupe Cervantes, 57, and Jose M. Archuleta, 54, were found deceased at the scene. Marissa, gravely wounded, was rushed to a local hospital and subsequently airlifted to a hospital in Denver for advanced care. Despite the efforts of medical professionals, she succumbed to her injuries the following day, on January 16, 2017. A fourth victim, Don L. Martinez, 34, also sustained a gunshot wound and was transported for medical attention.
In the aftermath of the tragic incident, law enforcement initiated a search for the person responsible. A man identified as 25-year-old Santos Navares of La Jara, who also went by the name Santos Rameriz, was apprehended several miles west of the crime scene on County Road AA. A multi-agency effort involving the Conejos County Sheriff's deputies, Colorado State Troopers, and officers from the Manassa, Antonito, and La Jara police departments led to his capture. Navares was taken into custody and faced a litany of charges, including three counts of first-degree murder with intent after deliberation, three counts of first-degree murder with extreme indifference, criminal attempt to commit first-degree murder, and first-degree assault. The motive for the shooting was not immediately made public.
Marissa Luz Herrera-Cervantes, born on January 10, 1987, was remembered as a woman who cherished her family, especially her son. She enjoyed simple pleasures like watching football, cooking, and spending quality time with her loved ones. Her death, along with that of her uncle, Lupe Cervantez, was mourned by a large extended family and the close-knit community. A joint funeral mass was held for Marissa and her uncle at the St. Joseph Catholic Parish in Capulin, followed by her burial in the Capulin Cemetery.
