Mistrial declared in 2020 execution-style killing trial

Sep. 11—A judge declared a mistrial Wednesday in the trial of two men charged in the 2020 shooting death of 33-year-old Antonio Jaramillo in his Albuquerque home.

The mistrial came after jurors had deliberated more than a day in the first-degree murder trial of Charles Robinson, 46, and Walter Palmon Eddings Jr., 40.

Second Judicial District Judge Jennifer Wernersbach did not specify reasons for her decision to declare the mistrial. The 2nd Judicial District Attorney's Office said mistrial was declared because jurors were mistakenly provided with verdict forms for manslaughter and tampering with evidence, although little or no evidence was presented to support those charges.

Jaramillo's family members expressed disappointment with the outcome of the weeklong trial.

"We're disappointed because we were hoping to have a verdict," said Serena Fazio, Robinson's sister. "We've been waiting almost four years. But I'd rather have a mistrial than have a hung jury or not guilty (verdict)."

Albuquerque police found Jaramillo fatally shot on Dec. 16, 2020, in a bedroom of his house in the 2600 block of Eighth NW. Jaramillo had been bound by his wrists and ankles and shot once in the head, witnesses testified.

Prosecutors plan to seek a retrial for both men. Three co-defendants have pleaded guilty to charges connected with the killing. The co-defendants were called as witnesses in the trial.

Attorneys for Robinson and Eddings declined to comment Wednesday.

Prosecutors alleged that Robinson planned the robbery and recruited others for the scheme, including his co-defendant, Reyanon Duncan, a longtime friend of Jaramillo's.

Duncan, 37, pleaded guilty in February to conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and armed robbery in Jaramillo's killing and faces up to 18 years in prison. Her sentencing hearing, previously set for Friday, has been cancelled.

Another co-conspirator, Gabriel Joseph Blea, 27, pleaded guilty in June to charges of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, kidnapping and other charges and faces up to 42 years in prison. His sentencing hearing has not been scheduled.

A third co-defendant, Amber Carlton, 41, testified last week that she drove Robinson to Jaramillo's house the day of the killing at Robinson's request.

Carlton pleaded guilty in 2023 to conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary in connection with Jaramillo's death. Her sentencing has not been scheduled.

A federal jury convicted Eddings in January of two counts of felon in possession of a firearm, federal court records show. He was sentenced Aug. 6 in U.S. District Court in Albuquerque to 14 years in prison.