A New Mexico judge on Monday sentenced Angelita Chacon to 30 years in prison for her role in the 2023 death of Mary Melero, an autistic woman who was found near the U.S.-Mexico border in a severely neglected condition, authorities said.
Melero, who was enrolled in the state’s Developmental Disabilities Waiver program, was discovered by Customs and Border Protection agents in a van. According to prosecutors, she was dehydrated, drugged and suffering from open wounds.
Charges and sentence
Chacon was convicted on multiple charges related to Melero’s death, including abuse of a resident resulting in death, false imprisonment and conspiracy to commit kidnapping. The judge imposed a 30-year prison term and ordered Chacon to pay restitution totaling $3.3 million, the New Mexico Office of the Attorney General said.
- The prison sentence: 30 years.
- Restitution ordered: $3.3 million.
- Co-defendant: Patricia Hurtado, who previously agreed to cooperate with prosecutors.
Prosecutors said Chacon had been contracted through the Developmental Disabilities Waiver program to provide care for Melero. Records show Chacon was receiving roughly $5,000 a month under that program for services that prosecutors say were not properly provided.
Co-defendant agreement and restitution breakdown
In September 2025, Hurtado reached an agreement with prosecutors to provide testimony against Chacon. As part of that agreement, Hurtado accepted criminal responsibility, agreed to serve a five-year prison term and committed to paying her share of restitution.
| Recipient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Estate of Mary Melero | $2,500,000.00 |
| State of New Mexico | $861,649.47 |
| Total | $3,361,649.47 |
Prosecutors described the restitution award as covering damages tied to Melero’s mistreatment and the state’s costs. The Office of the Attorney General called the case an important step in safeguarding New Mexicans with developmental disabilities.
Community and program implications
The case highlights scrutiny of the Developmental Disabilities Waiver program, which had contracted providers to deliver in-home supports for vulnerable residents. The program, previously administered by the New Mexico Department of Health, provides payments to caregivers and agencies to deliver services intended to allow people with developmental disabilities to live in their communities.
Advocates and families of those enrolled in the waiver program have long called for stronger oversight of providers and clearer accountability when services fail to meet required standards. The magnitude of the restitution and the sentence in this case may intensify calls for legislative or administrative changes to how the state monitors contracted caregivers.
State officials have said they are reviewing the details of the case and the operation of waiver services to determine whether additional safeguards or oversight measures are needed to prevent similar tragedies.
Legal outcome and next steps
With the sentencing complete, Chacon will begin serving her term in state custody. Hurtado, by agreement with prosecutors, will serve a five-year sentence and is responsible for contributing to restitution. Both defendants are legally responsible for the ordered payments, and the state will pursue the restitution through available collection mechanisms.
The Office of the Attorney General framed the convictions and restitution as a significant milestone in the effort to protect members of the state’s most vulnerable populations. Families and advocates told local reporters the case underscores the need for vigilance when publicly funded programs contract private caregivers to deliver essential services.
Further inquiries about the status of the Developmental Disabilities Waiver program or the state’s oversight efforts can be directed to the New Mexico Department of Health and the Office of the Attorney General.
Diego Salazar, WE NEWS.
