Left: Kristina Withrow (Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office). Kristian Crespin (Albuquerque Police Department).
A New Mexico mom who handed her son a firearm and told him to shoot a homeless woman was found guilty of second-degree murder.
Sam Bregman, the Bernalillo County District Attorney, shared on Facebook that Kristina Withrow, aged 46, was found guilty by a jury on Thursday of second-degree murder with a firearm enhancement, aggravated assault with a firearm enhancement, and tampering with evidence following a trial by jury. This outcome signified the conclusion of part of the aftermath of the shooting incident that led to the death of Monique Garcia, aged 36, who was shot and killed by Kristian Crespin, aged 20, the son of Withrow, in April 2023.
According to a statement released by the Albuquerque Police Department at the time of the incident, on April 3, 2023, Withrow encountered Garcia in the walkway of her apartment complex and instructed her to depart, presuming she was homeless. A verbal altercation ensued between the two women, during which Withrow armed herself with a handgun.
Subsequently, Withrow passed the gun to Crespin and instructed him to shoot Garcia. Crespin discharged three rounds at Garcia, who was promptly transported to the hospital where she succumbed to her injuries the next day.
In an interview with police, Withrow said that she had fired at Garcia. But eyewitnesses came forward and reported seeing a male fire shots before fleeing from the scene.
Crespin eventually confessed to the shooting and was charged with an open count of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and tampering with evidence. He pleaded guilty to both charges in April 2024 and was sentenced to 18 years in prison.
Withrow was also charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, but was not convicted on those counts. She is set to be sentenced at a later date.
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