Las Cruces man who killed mother could be set free
A man who killed his mother in 2007 could be set free and ABC-7 has learned it’s something prosecutors, his family and his own attorney don’t want.
At the time of the deadly shooting, Justin Quintana admitted to gunning down his mother, Susan Kuchma, with her own service weapon.
Kuchma was a New Mexico State Police officer. Quintana initially said it was an accident and doctors diagnosed him with schizophrenia.
A judge at the time ruled Quintana was incompetent to stand trial and he was sent to a behavioral hospital in Las Vegas, New Mexico for twelve years.
According to court documents obtained by ABC-7’s New Mexico Mobile Newsroom, judge ruled last summer, Quintana “is a danger to himself and to others” and should be kept in that treatment facility “until he is sane or no longer dangerous.”
Quintana’s family, his attorney and prosecutors agreed.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports the hospital said it’s a violation of Quintana’s civil rights, as a mentally ill patient, to have him committed indefinitely since he’s been declared not guilty, even if it’s by reason of insanity.
ABC-7 has learned this will all be decided during a closed hearing Friday and no one will know what the decision will be as the records will be sealed.
