N.M. Teen Accused of Hiring Friend to Get Parents 'Out of the Picture' So He Could Claim Inheritance: Affidavit
Darren Munoz, a 19-year-old from Clovis, New Mexico, stands accused of orchestrating the brutal murders of his father Oscar Munoz, 58, and stepmother Dina Munoz, 71, by hiring his friend Julio Zamora, 18, to eliminate them for a perceived inheritance windfall.
The Murders Unfold
On December 15, 2025, around 4:50 a.m., Clovis police responded to a 911 call from Munoz reporting a burglary at their York Drive home. Officers found the garage door open; Munoz, hands bloodied after entering his parents' room, claimed ignorance. Inside, Dina lay dead from a headshot, while Oscar clung to life before succumbing in a Lubbock hospital.
Plot Revelation
Munoz's girlfriend, Gabriela Dominguez, tipped police about a "weeks-long" scheme. Affidavits detail Munoz's belief that his dad's Allsup’s convenience store management meant big bucks upon death. He allegedly traded an AR rifle for Zamora's "ghost gun" (unserialized Glock), coordinating via texts: "They're on their way—garage open."
Evidence Trail
Home security captured Munoz hiding a pistol; Zamora fled with the ghost gun. A third friend backed out but knew the plan. Munoz staged the burglary post-shootings, delaying entry by claiming parental nudity.
Court Status
Both teens face first-degree murder, conspiracy, and solicitation charges at Curry County Detention Center, pleading not guilty. Munoz's hearing is December 22; Zamora's, the 23rd. Motive: "Get parents out of the picture" for inheritance.
Motive Deep Dive
Darren Munoz fixated on a "large inheritance" from his father's Allsup’s store job, despite affidavits revealing modest family finances—no vast estate, just a typical Clovis home. Texts show resentment over strict rules and car privileges, with Munoz plotting since November: "Once they're out of the picture, we split it."
Accomplice Role
Julio Zamora, the alleged shooter, received the traded AR-15 and entered via the unlocked garage at Munoz's signal. A mutual friend, fearing involvement, alerted authorities after overhearing plans at a local vape shop, providing key timestamps matching security footage.
Investigation Breakthrough
Gabriela Dominguez's confession cracked the case; she turned over deleted Snapchat exchanges where Munoz bragged, "No more lectures." Police recovered the ghost gun from Zamora's abandoned truck, ballistics linking it to Dina's fatal wound.
Community Shock
Clovis, a tight-knit farm town of 40,000, reels from the double homicide—first parents' counselors visited schools. Neighbors described the Munozes as "churchgoing, hardworking," stunned by Darren's gaming obsession and recent isolation.
Legal Proceedings Ahead
Darren Munoz and Julio Zamora await separate hearings in Curry County District Court, with prosecutors eyeing the death penalty given New Mexico's retention of capital punishment for aggravated murders. Defense attorneys argue coercion and mental health evaluations, citing Darren's untreated depression from online radicalization.
Family and Victim Profiles
Oscar Munoz, a 30-year Allsup’s veteran, coached Little League and tithed faithfully; Dina, his second wife, homeschooled younger siblings. Darren, the eldest, dropped out post-COVID, sinking into Fortnite marathons and Discord plots, alienating relatives who now mourn a "lost boy."
Broader Teen Violence Trends
This echoes 2024's South Carolina case where a teen hired hitmen via Roblox for $5K. Experts blame social media echo chambers glamorizing "sigma male" independence; Clovis PD now monitors vape shops and gaming cafes for recruitment signs.
Prevention Calls
Local pastors urge family counseling; schools add inheritance myth-busting in civics. DA warns: "Inheritance fantasies kill—real wealth builds through work," as GoFundMe for victims tops $100K amid national headlines.
