An Illinois man is going to prison for murdering his girlfriend and then attempting to make it appear as if she died by suicide by planting a note.
Nathaniel N. Archuleta, 19, was sentenced to 45 years in prison on Monday after pleading guilty to first-degree murder in the death of Mary Halcomb, 20, in South Peoria, according to a press release from the Peoria County State Attorney’s Office.
On September 6, cops responded to a home in the 1400 block of South Griswold after receiving calls about a woman who had shot herself. Officers entered the home and discovered Halcomb in a pool of blood on the stairwell landing, suffering from a gunshot wound to the neck. She had a gun in her hand. First responders declared her dead.
During their investigation, police discovered some writing that claimed to provide an explanation.
“In the downstairs bedroom was a post-it note that read, ‘I, Mary Elyce Halcomb, promise to never break Nathanial Archuleta’s heart, and if I do, Nathaniel Archuleta has every right to euthanize me, vice versa, I love you,'” according to the release from the county attorney’s office.
However, detectives discovered evidence that contradicted a suicide, including a blood trail from the bedroom to the landing area, indicating that Halcomb’s body had been moved.
Archuleta provided “conflicting accounts” of what occurred on the night in question, initially claiming it was a suicide and then claiming he was cleaning his gun when it accidentally went off. However, he later told a fellow inmate that he shot his girlfriend because he “caught her texting another man,” prosecutors said.
Prosecutors stated that Halcomb’s family members attended Monday’s plea hearing and described the emotional toll her death had taken.
“They talked about sleepless nights, nightmares, and ongoing heartbreak. They described an overwhelming sense of loss, including the loss of sisterly moments, shared dreams, and life milestones that will never come,” according to the press release.
“Mary’s loved ones described their struggles with trust, fear, depression, and anxiety. They condemned Archuleta’s actions as selfish and unforgivable, claiming that blood will always be on his hands and that justice must now be served.
According to her obituary, Halcomb aspired to be a nurse.
“She had dreams of becoming a nurse, a goal driven by her deep compassion and desire to help others,” according to the death certificate. “Her warmth and kindness were evident in all aspects of her life, particularly as the oldest of three siblings. She was a devoted and awesome big sister who was always willing to help around the house.
