Santiago Garduno (1893 – July 21, 1933) was an American

serial killer A serial killer is typically a person who murders three or more persons,A * * * * with the murders taking place over more than a month and including a significant period of time between them. While most authorities set a threshold of three ...

who committed at least three murders in

Colorado Colorado (, other variants) is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It encompasses most of the Southern Rocky Mountains, as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of t ...

and

New Mexico ) , population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano) , seat = Santa Fe , LargestCity = Albuquerque , LargestMetro = Tiguex , OfficialLang = None , Languages = English, Spanish ( New Mexican), Navajo, Ker ...

in the early 20th century. Garduno was sentenced to death for his final murder, and became one of the first two inmates to be executed by electric chair in New Mexico.

Initial murders

Garduno served time for a murder committed in Colorado. He was also charged with murder, but that case did not go to trial after key witnesses against him died. On January 1, 1925, several men, including Garduno, got into a fight at a dance party in

Truchas, New Mexico Truchas is a census-designated place in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, United States. Located along the scenic High Road to Taos, it is halfway between Santa Fe in the south, and Taos to the north. Truchas has the ZIP code 87578. The 87578 ZIP ...

. During the fight, Garduno pulled out a gun and fired several shots, killing a young man named Paulin Barela and wounding Paulin's brother. The Barela brothers had been members of the

American Legion The American Legion, commonly known as the Legion, is a non-profit organization of U.S. war War is an intense armed conflict between states, governments, societies, or paramilitary groups such as mercenaries, insurgents, and militi ...

and were well respected in the community. Garduno was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 9 to 10 years in prison. He was paroled in 1930.

Final murder

On October 7, 1932, Garduno poisoned his 16-year-old stepson, Filemon Martinez, with whiskey laced with

strychnine Strychnine (, , US chiefly ) is a highly toxic, colorless, bitter, crystalline alkaloid used as a pesticide, particularly for killing small vertebrates such as birds and rodents. Strychnine, when inhaled, swallowed, or absorbed through the eye ...

. Garduno was convicted of first degree murder. The jury did not make a recommendation for mercy, making a death sentence mandatory. Upon passing the sentence, the judge told Garduno "this is the third time you have been tried for taking human life: so far as this court is concerned it will be the last." After his appeals failed, Garduno was executed in the electric chair at the

New Mexico State Penitentiary The Penitentiary of New Mexico (PNM) is a men's maximum-security prison located in unincorporated Santa Fe County, south of central Santa Fe, on New Mexico State Road 14. It is operated by the New Mexico Corrections Department. The complex cons ...

on July 21, 1933. He was one of the first two inmates executed by electrocution in New Mexico, the other being 43-year-old Thomas Johnson, who had killed a young woman, attacked her mother, and beaten and robbed a garage attendant. The two were executed on the same day, with Johnson being executed first. Garduno met with his mother and sister before he was executed. His last meal consisted of a chicken dinner. Garduno's last words were "I forgive everyone for whatever has been done. I hold no malice." He was pronounced dead at 1:12 AM.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Garduno, Santiago 1893 births 1933 deaths 20th-century executions by New Mexico 20th-century executions of American people American murderers of children American people convicted of manslaughter Executed American serial killers Executed people from New Mexico People convicted of murder by Colorado People convicted of murder by New Mexico People executed by electric chair People executed by New Mexico Poisoners Serial killers from Colorado Serial killers from New Mexico

Initial murders

Final murder

See also

References