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Tuesday, June 09, 2009
Friend Admits Killing Drag Queen
Journal Staff Report
Dana Madsen, 34, pleaded guilty Monday in state District Court to the January 2008 murder of Patrick "Patricia" Murphy, a popular Albuquerque female impersonator.
Madsen called police after the shooting and made voluntary statements to officers after shooting Murphy, whom he referred to as "she," according to an arrest warrant affidavit filed in the case.
Judge Charles Brown sentenced Madsen to 16 years in prison but suspended four of them after Madsen's guilty plea to second-degree murder was entered.
Murphy was known to friends as "Patricia" and was a popular female impersonator in Albuquerque who had won awards for his performances, the district attorney's office said.
According to the criminal complaint, Madsen and Murphy were arguing inside Madsen's southeast Albuquerque apartment when Madsen retrieved a revolver and shot Murphy four times.
During a police interview, Madsen allegedly stated that Murphy threatened him with a knife, but also said, "There's a girl upstairs who didn't deserve to be shot," the complaint said.
Madsen and Murphy met at a local bar and became friends after Madsen moved to Albuquerque, the complaint said. Murphy had come to his apartment in the afternoon, and the two had been drinking when they began arguing. Madsen said Murphy threatened to cut his throat, and suggested he could do it while Madsen was sleeping.
During the argument, Madsen said he saw Murphy raise his hands, and that he held a small silver blade. Madsen fired and Murphy fell to the floor but was still alive after the first three shots.
"Madsen said he shot him (Murphy) in the back of the head because he was screaming and wanted to put him out of his misery," the police affidavit says.
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