Las Cruces Police say man used a sword to kill his mother while she slept

Las Cruces Police have arrested a man for allegedly using a sword to kill his mother early Friday morning.

Joshua J. Hunt, 35, is charged with one count of first degree murder and one count of tampering with evidence.

Shortly before 7:30 a.m. Friday, July 18, Las Cruces Police were sent to the report of a possible homicide in the 5800 block of Organ Peak Drive.

Police say officers arrived at the home, were met by Hunt, and took him into custody without incident.

Officers found the body of 56-year-old Lisa J. Cano in one of the bedrooms.

Las Cruces Police detectives have reason to believe that a long-standing feud between the two led to Hunt allegedly killing his mother.

Detectives say that Hunt woke up at around 4 a.m. and contemplated the way his mother treated him over the years.

Detectives believe that sometime before 7:30 a.m., Hunt went into his mother’s bedroom and allegedly struck her with a long sword on her hand and head.

Hunt then walked into his bedroom and told his wife to call police.

Hunt’s 31-year-old wife and their two children, ages 8 and 9, were in the home and presumed to be asleep at the time of the incident.

Hunt is expected to be booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center where he will be held on a $500,000 cash-only bond.