Defendants Remanded for Violating Release Conditions in Mary Melero Death Case

AG: New Mexico Press Releases

Filed June 16th, 2025

Detected March 21st, 2026

Summary

The New Mexico Department of Justice successfully remanded defendants Angelica Chacon and Patricia Hurtado into custody for violating their release conditions, including tampering with GPS monitors and texting each other. They are accused of extreme abuse and neglect leading to the death of Mary Melero.

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What changed

The New Mexico Department of Justice (NMDOJ) announced the successful remand of defendants Angelica Chacon and Patricia Hurtado into police custody. This action was taken due to violations of their conditions of release, specifically tampering with GPS monitors and prohibited communication via text messages. The defendants are accused of extreme abuse and neglect that led to the death of Mary Melero, a 38-year-old woman with developmental disabilities.

This development means Chacon and Hurtado will remain incarcerated until their trial. The NMDOJ presented strong evidence of the violations to the court, resulting in their remand. This action highlights the consequences of violating release conditions in serious criminal cases and underscores the NMDOJ's commitment to prosecuting elder abuse and neglect cases.

What to do next

Review conditions of release for defendants in active cases.
Ensure monitoring systems (e.g., GPS) are functioning and tamper-proof.
Document and report any violations of release conditions promptly to the court.

Penalties

Remand into custody until trial.

Source document (simplified)

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MEDIA ALERT Defendants Charged in Death of Developmentally Disabled Woman, Mary Melero, Remanded into Police Custody After Violating their Conditions of Release

June 16, 2025

Albuquerque, NM – Today, the New Mexico Department of Justice (NMDOJ) was successful in remanding defendants Angelica Chacon and Patricia Hurtado for tampering with their GPS monitors and texting each other – both of which are prohibited by their conditions of release.

Chacon and Hurtado will remain in custody until their trial in which they are accused of extreme abuse and neglect of a 38-year-old woman with developmental disabilities leading to the death of the victim, Mary Melero. Melero was discovered by Customs and Border Patrol agents in the rear seat of a white passenger van severely dehydrated and drugged with numerous open wounds, including chronic bedsores with exposed bone, bruises and lacerations on various parts of her body as well as ligature marks consistent with prolonged restraint.

Earlier this month, the NMDOJ brought the violations of conditions of release case to the Court, however the judge needed more time to assess the information. The hearing was rescheduled for today in which both parties were brought together and the NMDOJ produced strong evidence that resulted in the Court remanding both defendants, removing two allegedly violent and dangerous individuals from the streets of our community.

See links to the notice of evidentiary hearing as well as the addendum to the Motion to Revoke Conditions of Release filed by the NMDOJ.

This case was investigated by the NMDOJ’s Medicaid Fraud and Elder Abuse Bureau (MFEAB). The New Mexico MFEAB receives 75 percent of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $3,451,202 for federal fiscal year 2025. The remaining 25 percent, totaling $1,150,401 for fiscal year 2025, is funded by the State of New Mexico.