A driver who was the reason for a police officer and a firefighter to die is now facing lifetime imprisonment.
Jeannine Jaramillo, 46, from Albuquerque, New Mexico, claimed that she was kidnapped by her new boyfriend, Mark Lopez, who drove her away in a vehicle after an argument with him near an apartment complex.
Jaramillo who fabricated her own kidnap is facing murder charges after Mr. Duran, a police officer, and Mr. Lovato, a firefighter has died after a high-speed chase to “rescue” her ended up in a crash.
According to witnesses, an unidentified man wearing a red shirt, black pants, and a black jacket fled the scene and Jaramillo claimed that it was Lopez. However, Julian Norris, a Santa Fe police officer said he only saw a female driver in the car and no one else got out of the vehicle.
The police later determined that Jaramillo made up the kidnapping story and the vehicle she traveled was a stolen one. They also found out from the computer data of the vehicle that during the crash, only the driver’s seat was occupied.
The DNA from the driver’s side airbag matched Jaramillo and she was confirmed as the driver.
Speaking at a news conference over the weekend, Santa Fe County District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies said the woman will face lifetime imprisonment if she’s convicted of the charges.
Carmack-Altwies said: “Jaramillo was driving a stolen vehicle, and she caused the collision that killed Mr. Duran and Mr. Lovato. Jeannine Jaramillo must answer to the charges of first-degree murder.”
City police Chief Antonio Salazar said: “She faces additional charges, including homicide by vehicle, receiving stolen property, aggravated fleeing, and tampering with evidence. Meanwhile, it is not known if Jaramillo stole the car.”
Tim Johnson, New Mexico State Police Chief, said in a statement: “Her actions put the entire public in danger and took the lives of two dedicated public servants. I hope that holding her accountable will provide some closure to Officer Duran and Frank Lovato’s family.”
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