Arrest made in Taos murder case

TAOS COUNTY, N.M. (KRQE) - The Holy Cross Convent building in Taos has seen many uses over its nearly 90 years.

“This building has been everything from the actual hospital for Taos to a nunnery to a morgue,” Taos County Volunteer Fire Chief Jim Fambro said.

In late August a new title was added to its long history, murder scene.

Firefighters said someone set the building ablaze in the early morning on August 8, 2012 and back then everyone was wondering the same thing who would do that and why?

Two weeks after the blaze police found out why someone would do it.

Acting on a tip, detectives searched through the charred rubble and found a body in the basement of the building.

Authorities identified the man as Christian Payton, 39 a transient who had just been kicked out of a shelter.

Officers believe Payton was murdered and the fire was set to cover it up.

On Monday sources told News 13 an arrest had been made in the case, Deborah Jaramillo, 28 was picked up in Durango and is now behind bars there.

The Taos County district attorney would not comment on the investigation but he did say evidence at the scene shows there was more than one person involved.

News 13 has also confirmed detectives were back out at the scene Monday looking for more evidence.

The DA’s office would not say who the accomplice’s maybe or where they are but he did say they have a few people they want to talk to.

At this point it is not clear what the motive for the killing is.

Online court records show both Payton and Jaramillo have criminal pasts.

The office of the medical examiner has not yet finished Payton’s autopsy so investigators still do not know what killed him.