Follow us on

Thursday, May 23, 2013 | 8:18 a.m.

Updated: 9:09 p.m. Friday, March 28, 2008 | Posted: 6:05 p.m. Friday, March 28, 2008

Dona Ana County Sheriff's Deputies Question 87-Year-Old Man In Wife's Death

LAS CRUCES, N.M. —

An 87-year old man may be facing murder charges after deputies make a gruesome discover in his home. Deputies told KFOX the Las Cruces man has Alzheimer's and are questioning him in his wife's death. The home on 191 Villa Chiquita belonged to 87-year-old Theria Waldrin and her husband Drew. Friday morning Theira Waldrin was found dead and Dona Ana County sheriff's deputies said her husband, who may be mentally ill, is the prime suspect.

Picachio Hills in south Las Cruces, the area the couple lived in, looks like the perfect neighborhood with manicured lawns, spacious homes and a golf course just round the corner.

It is the last neighborhood anybody would expect a murder scene.

Gary Koverman lives a few homes down from where the slaying happened. He said, "You don't see police up here. Very very seldom you see a police up here."

Friday there was plenty of law enforcement lining the streets of Picachio Hills, after Drew reported his wife missing around 6 a.m. Friday. Deputies started a search for a woman but what they found was a first for this quiet community.

"Officers came back to the home and discovered that she was in fact at the home and that she had a gunshot wound," said Richard Chavez, a spokesman for Dona Ana County Sheriff's Department.

The sheriff's office is identifying Theria Waldrin as the elderly victim. She died of a single gunshot wound to the head and was found in her bed. Her elderly husband, who suffers from Alzheimer's, was taken in for questioning and is being called a person of interest in her death.

Those who knew the elderly couple said they were good-hearted .

Mike Quigley used to walk with the couple. He said, " She always wore a red hat. I remember that much about her. I think she was a member of the red hat club. I would meet them and we used to walk and just a lovely couple."

The Dona Ana County Sheriff's Office said there is no word on whether or not the victim's husband will face murder charges since he has Alzheimer's. He will be evaluated by his doctors and the sheriff's office will contact the district attorney to find out how to move forward with charges. Drew Waldrin, the suspect in the case, is not under arrest. Charges are pending a medical evaluation.

More News

 
 
KFOX14 Live Stream

Watch KFOX14 News Live

Watch live broadcasts of KFOX14 News seven days a week.

iSpot Reporter

Borderland Experts

Borderland Experts mobile version

 

© 2013 Sinclair Broadcast Group. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad ChoicesAdChoices.