New Mexico teen arrested for murder and kidnapping of former corrections officer: report

A New Mexico teen has been arrested for her involvement in the murder of a former corrections officer, police said.

Police arrested Anna Bella Dukes, 18, on Jan. 24 in connection with the murder of Elias Otero, according to KOAT.

Dukes has been charged with an open count of murder, kidnapping, two counts of armed robbery, tampering with evidence and conspiracy, KOAT reported.

Otero was shot to death outside his home in February while he was trying to defend his younger brother, who police say had been kidnapped and carjacked by Dukes and Adrian Avila, 17, according to KOAT.

Police say Dukes used social media to lure a man to meet with her in the early morning hours of Feb. 11, 2021. The plan was for Avila and another suspect could rob the man, KOB 4 reported.

Otero’s younger brother met Dukes online and he picked her up in a red Lexus, KOAT reported.

Investigators say it turned out to be a setup, according to KOAT.

The suspects dragged the victim from his car and demanded cash, jewelry and a gun from him, KOAT reported.

They held the man at gunpoint and went to his brother’s residence in southwest Albuquerque, New Mexico. There, they ordered him to call Ortero and have him bring the money and the gun outside or they would shoot and kill him, according to KOAT.

Police said Otero came out of the house and threatened to shoot the suspects, according to KOAT.

Investigators say that’s when Avila shot and killed Elias, KOAT reported.

His younger brother managed to get away, according to KOAT.

Police arrested Avila in December after he turned himself in to police, KOAT reported. Dukes is currently being booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center.