ALBUQUERQUE, NM – A New Mexico mother who handed her son a firearm and directed him to shoot a woman she believed to be homeless has been found guilty of second-degree murder.
The verdict came down Thursday, concluding the trial of 46-year-old Kristina Withrow. She was convicted of several charges, including second-degree murder with a firearm enhancement, aggravated assault with a firearm enhancement, and tampering with evidence. The case revolves around the April 2023 shooting of Monique Garcia, a 36-year-old woman who died after being shot by Withrow’s son, Kristian Crespin.
The incident began on April 3, 2023, when Withrow confronted Garcia in the walkway of her Albuquerque apartment building. Mistakenly assuming Garcia was homeless, Withrow demanded she leave the premises. The situation escalated into a verbal dispute, during which Withrow retrieved her handgun.
Rather than diffusing the conflict, Withrow handed the firearm to her son and instructed him to shoot Garcia. Crespin complied, firing three shots that ultimately led to Garcia’s death the following day after she was rushed to a local hospital.
In her initial police interview, Withrow claimed she was the one who discharged the firearm. However, eyewitness accounts quickly contradicted her story, identifying a male as the shooter.
Crespin eventually admitted to the crime, facing charges that included murder and conspiracy to commit murder. In April 2024, he pleaded guilty to these charges and received an 18-year prison sentence.
Although Withrow faced additional charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy, she was not convicted on those counts. Her sentencing is scheduled for a later date, which will determine the penalties for her involvement in the tragic event.
The case has prompted discussions on gun responsibility and the dynamics of family influence, highlighting the severe consequences of reckless decisions. As the community grapples with the aftermath, the legal outcomes have closed one chapter in this distressing narrative, though the broader implications linger.