by Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
RATON — A district court jury took just under three hours to find Crystal Vigil, 37, guilty of first degree murder in the death of Zacariah Holderby after an argument between the two resulted in a shooting in December of 2016.
After a 911 call to Raton Police Dispatch, officers responded to the South Second Street home where they found Holderby had been shot in the forehead. Raton Fire and Emergency Services transported Holderby to MCMC, he was later transfered to UNM Hospital where he passed away on Wednesday, December 15, 2016. At the time of the incident it was noted by police that Vigil was a longtime girlfriend of Holderby.
Vigil had been charged with first degree murder, tampering with evidence, and a felon in possession of a firearm. The jury found Vigil not guilty of tampering with evidence and returned a guilty verdict on first degree murder. The charge of felon in possession of a firearm was dropped from the case.
Chief Judge Jeff McElroy presided over the case and has requested a presentence report within 30 days. Sentencing will be handed down once the court receives the PSR. Vigil will remain in the Colfax County Detention Center until sentencing.Vigil was scheduled to be back in court on January 29, 2018 for a jury trial on drug charges she faces from her arrest in March of 2016 according to court records. The only item on the 8th District Court calendar was a plea conference for the defendant.
