Harrowing moment dying woman, 82, begs New Mexico police not to leave her alone with caregiver who ‘killed’ her shortly after they left: Officer complimented suspect’s ‘nice’ gun
An elderly New Mexico woman was shot dead in her home by her caregiver for hours after she told police she feared for her life, prosecutors say.
Juneanne Fannell, 82, was allegedly killed by Henry Cardana in her Rio Rancho home in April, just four hours after she begged police not to leave her alone with the suspect.
Cardana herself had called 911 and urged them to remove the elderly person ‘for her own safety’ before they arrived at the property.
During the visit, Fannell told police that Cardana had threatened to kill her, but instead of confiscating guns under the state’s red flag gun laws, officers complimented Cardana on his gun seizure.
Shocking footage shows police laughing and joking with Cardana in what would be the final moments of Fannell’s life.
Juneanne Fannell was shot dead in her New Mexico home hours after she alerted police that her caregiver had threatened to kill her
Henry Cardana called 911 and urged police to remove Fannell, 82, ‘for her own safety’ before shooting her
In the 911 call prior to the home visit, Cardana, who had been Fannell’s caretaker for several years, tells police they must remove her “for her own safety.”
“She’s a hospice patient in a hospital and she’s out of control. I have no control over her anymore. For her own safety, she needs to get her the hell out of here,” he says in audio obtained by Cat 7.
Fannell then speaks to a 911 operator to confirm that she believes she is in danger and that there are weapons in the house.
Police visited the property just before 8am on April 5. In a conversation with Cardana you can hear them congratulating him for being a ‘gun man’.
The suspect then confirms that the weapons are ‘loaded’ and ‘ready to go’.
“I like people who have guns, because I have guns,” one of the officers tells him.
A nervous Fannell then begs the officers not to leave her.
‘Please do not. Please don’t leave,” she wails as the police inform her that they “can’t” stay.
Then Cardana makes a chilling joke and tells her, “You’ll be fine until I kill you.”
Rio Rancho police complimented Cardana on his gun collection rather than removing them under state laws that give them the power to do so if they suspect it is a credible threat.
Fannell died just four hours after police were called to her home and after Cardana joked about killing her in front of police
Fannell then informs the police that he has “threatened to do that” before, but they leave anyway. Within four hours she was dead.
A neighbor then called 911 again and reported that a screaming Cardana told her he had killed Fannell.
When police returned to the scene, they found him covered in blood. He has been charged with murder and the case is still pending in court.
Bodycam footage shows a distressed Cardana blaming police for Fannell’s death.
“You’re not listening, you haven’t helped me at all,” he shouts. “It’s all your fault, you caused this.”
The tragedy has sparked criticism of Rio Rancho police for failing to exercise their power to confiscate firearms from those they suspect could cause harm under the Red Flag Gun Law. the state.
The Extreme Risk Firearm Protection Order Act allows authorities to petition the court to temporarily remove weapons from a person they suspect is at risk of harming themselves or others.
The controversial law was passed in July 2020, despite strong opposition from many state sheriffs.
New Mexico’s Red Flag laws allow police to petition the court to take away firearms when they suspect the owner may harm themselves or others
Cardana was found covered in blood after the shooting. He told the police who arrived on the scene that it was all their fault
It has only been used 55 times since its introduction and never in Sandoval County, where Fannell was killed.
Legal expert John Day told Koat that there was “a lot of information” that would have prompted the implementation of the red flag law in the Fannell case.
Former state Rep. Daymon Ely, who sponsored the bill, told the newspaper there were only two reasons why Sandoval police did not issue the order.
‘Either they were not properly informed about the use because it clearly fits in with it, or they decided because a jurisdiction threatened not to use it.
“If it is the latter, it has cost someone their life.”
He added that Fannell’s family could have a case to sue the department for failing to use the law and protect her.
Rio Rancho police said they were working to arrange alternative housing for Fannell, who they did not believe was in fear for her life.
Chief Steward Steele said: ‘When officers left the scene, it did not appear that Juneanne was in fear for her safety and there was no probable cause to believe that any criminal activity had occurred.
‘Officers witnessed no signs of distress and the comments about using a firearm appeared insincere and in jest.
“Officers did not have reasonable belief to suspect that either individual was honestly considering an imminent act of violence because the behavior of the individuals observed at the scene indicated that they cared about each other.”
Based on this, there was no reason to trigger an alarm, he said.