A 19-year-old man in New Mexico faces serious charges after allegedly orchestrating the murder of his own parents, believing their deaths would lead to a significant financial windfall.
The Chilling Plot Unfolds
Darren Munoz, alongside his friend Julio Zamora, was arrested on Monday following the fatal shooting of Munoz's father and stepmother. According to an arrest affidavit obtained by ABC7, Munoz had been planning the killings for 'several weeks or months' with the assistance of two acquaintances.
The motive, as stated in the legal document, was for Munoz to 'take over the parents' belongings/finances.' He reportedly operated under the mistaken belief that his father owned the Allsups convenience store franchise, a prominent brand across Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico.
A Brutal Night and a Flawed Cover-Up
The plan, per the affidavit, involved Zamora entering the family home in Clovis through the garage and shooting Oscar, 58, and Dina Munoz, 71, as they slept. Another friend had allegedly agreed to act as the shooter if Zamora could not.
In the early hours of December 15, around 4:50 am, police responded to a suspected burglary call from the couple's home. Upon arrival, officers found Darren Munoz standing outside the opened garage, insisting everything was fine.
When police insisted on checking on his parents, Munoz attempted to deter them, claiming 'his parents slept naked.' He eventually led an officer inside but asked him to wait. Munoz then entered the bedroom alone, emerging moments later with his hands 'covered in blood.'
The couple had each been shot in the head. Dina was pronounced dead at the scene, while Oscar was rushed to a hospital in Lubbock, where he later succumbed to his critical injuries.
Investigation Reveals Contradictions and Evidence
During questioning, Munoz claimed the garage door alarm woke him but denied hearing any gunshots. Police countered in the affidavit, 'It made no sense that Munoz would hear the garage door alarm go off but not hear gunshots down the hall from him.'
Further investigation revealed no signs of forced entry and nothing missing from the property. Key evidence came from Munoz's girlfriend and surveillance footage:
- The girlfriend told police Munoz planned to trade an AR rifle for a 'ghost' Glock pistol.
- Surveillance footage showed Munoz placing a 9mm Glock in his waistband just 12 hours before the murders.
- She also confirmed being with Munoz and Zamora when they purchased 9mm ammunition.
Zamora was subsequently arrested outside his home with the 9mm Glock, which he admitted was the murder weapon. He confessed that Munoz had asked him to carry out the killings.
Charges and Aftermath
Darren Munoz now faces two counts of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, and solicitation to commit first-degree murder. Julio Zamora was charged with two counts of murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
Contrary to the son's belief, Oscar Munoz was not the owner of Allsups. His LinkedIn profile indicated he was a supervisor at an Allsups store for nearly 24 years. The Allsups brand is owned by Yesway, which is operated by the private equity firm Brookwood Financial Partners, LLC.
The Clovis Police Department continues its investigation into this tragic case of alleged murder for inheritance.
