Angelita Chacon sentenced in Rio Rancho disabled woman abuse death
A judge sentenced Angelita Chacon to prison on Monday for a deadly abuse case in Rio Rancho. The decision concludes a state prosecution involving the fatal neglect of a woman with developmental disabilities.
A judge ordered Chacon to serve 30 years in prison. The state Department of Justice called it one of the most egregious caregiver cases they have seen.
“Injuries were gruesome. It really was almost amounted to torture,” said Joseph Martinez, general counsel for the New Mexico Department of Justice.
Mary Melero, 38, died in April 2023 under the care of Chacon. Melero was enrolled in the developmental disabilities waiver program under the Department of Health. The program paid Chacon $5,000 a month.
“It does a very important job of sending a message to all the other DV waiver providers, all the other caregivers in the state of New Mexico. If you abuse someone, if you abuse the most vulnerable, the New Mexico Department of Justice will investigate and will prosecute,” said Martinez.
Chacon put Melero in a van in February 2023. She took her to the U.S.-Mexico border. Customs and Border Patrol agents found Melero there. Melero had severe dehydration and was drugged. She had open wounds and chronic bedsores with exposed bone. Melero died two months later.
State prosecutors also charged Chacon’s girlfriend, Patricia Hurtado. Hurtado agreed to testify against Chacon last September. She agreed to serve five years in prison.
The court ordered Chacon to pay $3.3 million in restitution. That total includes $2.5 million for Melero’s estate. Hurtado agreed to pay her share of the restitution.
“The family was present in the courtroom today. They were heartbroken, but I think there was a sense of happy that it’s come to an end,” Martinez said.
The state developmental disabilities waiver program assists individuals with specialized care needs. The New Mexico Department of Justice investigates criminal abuse cases statewide. Sentenced individuals transfer from county detention facilities to state custody.
The deadly neglect case began in Rio Rancho before reaching federal border checkpoints. Both defendants now face state prison time.
