PEORIA, IL – An Illinois man has received a 45-year prison sentence after admitting to killing his girlfriend last year and then attempting to disguise the crime as a suicide.
Nathaniel N. Archuleta, 19, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in connection with the September 2023 death of 20-year-old Mary Halcomb in South Peoria. He was sentenced Monday in Peoria County Court, where emotions ran high and Halcomb’s family shared the devastation left by her passing.
Emergency crews were called to a residence on South Griswold Street on Sept. 6, after a report that a woman had shot herself. When officers arrived, they discovered Halcomb on a stairwell landing, suffering from a fatal gunshot wound to her neck. She was found with a handgun in her hand and pronounced dead at the scene.
Evidence began to unravel the initial appearance of suicide. Investigators noted a blood trail leading from a bedroom to the stairwell, indicating Halcomb had been moved after being shot. In addition, a post-it note was found in a downstairs bedroom, allegedly written by Halcomb, suggesting she had authorized Archuleta to take her life if their relationship was breached. Detectives grew suspicious of the authenticity and timing of the note.
Archuleta’s statements to police shifted multiple times, starting with a claim that Halcomb had taken her own life. He later told officers the gun had accidentally fired while he was cleaning it. But his story fell apart further after he allegedly told another inmate he had shot Halcomb during a fight after discovering her texting another man.
Prosecutors presented a detailed account of the investigation that led to Archuleta’s arrest and conviction. Forensic evidence and inconsistencies in Archuleta’s stories contributed to the conclusion that the death had been staged.
At Monday’s hearing, Halcomb’s relatives filled the courtroom. Family members tearfully described the deep emotional scars left by her murder, recalling sleepless nights, nightmares, and the pain of future milestones stolen from them. They characterized Archuleta’s actions as selfish and irreversible, demanding accountability for the loss suffered.
Halcomb, the eldest of three siblings, aspired to become a nurse and was known for her compassion and support for those around her, according to her obituary. Her loved ones remembered her as a devoted big sister, always ready to help out at home.
Archuleta must serve his sentence without the possibility of early release. Prosecutors said the outcome ensures justice for Halcomb and her grieving family, but acknowledged no verdict could erase the profound loss.