SILVER CITY, N.M. — A New Mexico man has pleaded guilty to the second-degree murder of his wife, Erica Zamora, after killing her with an ax. Armando Zamora, 38, had been on probation for criminal sexual contact with a minor and was wearing a GPS ankle monitor at the time of the murder.
Zamora also pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence and admission of identity as a habitual offender.
In sentencing, Zamora received 16 years for second-degree murder and four years each for two counts of tampering with evidence. The sentences will be served consecutively.
According to court records, Zamora had already pleaded guilty in 2019 to criminal sexual contact with a minor under the age of 13 and was going through a divorce with his wife. He was on supervised probation and wearing an ankle monitor when he killed his wife during an argument.
Erica Zamora was last seen on September 26, 2021, and was officially reported missing on October 1.
Police say that the suspect’s ankle monitor data contradicted his story of his and Erica Zamora’s whereabouts between September 26 and September 28. He claimed they had gone to cut wood in a forest before returning home and dropping her off at her residence. However, GPS data from the ankle monitor placed Zamora at the location where the victim’s body was found.
The New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau discovered Erica Zamora’s deceased body in the Gila National Forest. Zamora later admitted to the ax murder after being confronted with the ankle monitor data.
Zamora’s defense attorney has not yet responded to a request for comment.