Raúl Torrez Attorney General at New Mexico | Twitter Website
Raúl Torrez Attorney General at New Mexico | Twitter Website
Silver City, NM – Judge Jarod Hofacket sentenced Cody McDonald to 18 years in the New Mexico Department of Corrections for the murder of 22-year-old Daniel Murillo. On April 12, 2024, the New Mexico Department of Justice secured a guilty conviction against McDonald. He was found guilty of second-degree murder and tampering with evidence by a Grant County jury.
“We are pleased that Judge Hofacket sentenced the defendant to the maximum number of years allowed under New Mexico law,” said Attorney General Raúl Torrez. “Daniel’s family beautifully stated in today’s sentencing that he was a loving father, son, uncle and cousin. Unfortunately, due to the defendant’s careless actions, Daniel never got the chance to meet his son. We hope his family is now able to heal and take comfort that the defendant will be in prison for nearly two decades.”
During the evening of November 18, 2020, Lorraine Woods, the mother of McDonald’s child, and Murillo, Woods’ boyfriend, arrived at McDonald’s home with his son for a visit. A heated argument between McDonald and Woods over child support escalated into McDonald shooting Murillo. Murillo was transported to the University Medical Center in El Paso, Texas but succumbed to his injuries. McDonald then hid the firearm in a cabinet in an attempt to mislead authorities.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Special Prosecutions Johnna Walker and Assistant Solicitor General Criminal Appeals Lee Green.
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