At just 17 — young enough to be preparing for algebra or a high school dance — Carissa McGee went to prison. Her 21-year sentence was longer than her life...
News in Pictures
Sunlight illuminates Emma Porter, 11, as she sits inside a reading nook during her visit with her family to the International District Library in Northeast Albuquerque, N.M., Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023. (Chancey Bush/ Albuquerque Journal)
Breezy Blue Response Disinfecting Minibot is an automated disinfection system that prevents illness in spaces like classrooms, hotel rooms, ambulances and more. Build With Robots CEO and Founder Chris Ziomek demonstrates how it works during a press conference.(Roberto E. Rosales/Albuquerque Jourrnal)
Sandia High School senior Joaquin Higuera (0) cheers for his teammates during the second half of boy’s varsity basketball game against West Mesa High School in Northwest Albuquerque, N.M. on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023. The Sandia Matadors beat West Mesa Mustangs 63-51. (Chancey Bush/ Albuquerque Journal)
From left, Emma Vega, 10, Mikaela Spurgeon, 11, and Camila Valdez, 11, with Balle Encanto, a folkloric dance group from Silver City, get ready in a hallway to perform in the New Mexico Senate, Wednesday, February 1, 2023. (Eddie Moore/Albuquerque Journal)
From left, Navin Gnanakaren, Leyana Tercero, Naomi Celote, all 10, and other dancers with National Dance Institute in Santa Fe, perform for members of the New Mexico House of Representatives, Wednesday, February 1, 2023. The group, representing around 7,000 NDI dancers around the state performed for both the House and Senate. (Eddie Moore/Albuquerque Journal)
Boxes of donuts sit stacked in the Rebel Donuts van in the parking lot of their Wyoming location in Albuquerque on Tuesday, as Rebel Donuts owner Margot Cravens looks on. The company is selling boxes of donuts from one of their vans in the parking lot after a fire forced the location to close its doors. (Liam DeBonis/Journal)
Lek and Margo Chinsangaram of Corvallis, Oregon enjoy a warm January 30, 2023, day by hiking the Boca Negra Canyon Trails at the Petroglyph National Monument.High temperatures are expected to be in the 50's for the rest of the week . (Adolphe Pierre-Louis/ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL)
Paul Smith, reflects on his 26 years at the helm of Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta as the Executive Director. Photographed Tuesday. January 24, 2023. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis/Albuquerque Journal)
Joee Sanchez poses in front of the Intel crane. (Courtesy of Joee Sanchez)
Sen. George Muñoz, D-Gallup, eats cheese-stuffed breadsticks with marinara alongside first grader Kaiden Coriz, left, and second grader Judah Lee Bay, center, Friday at Ramirez Thomas Elementary School in Santa Fe. (Eddie Moore/Journal)
Los Lunas’ Ezra Guest splits the gap between Rio Grande defenders Isaiah Lucero, left, and Eliseo Velazquez Saturday afternoon. Los Lunas rolled to an easy win. (Roberto E. Rosales/Journal)
Albuquerque, New Mexico/Roberto E. Rosales/Albuquerque Journal
Kee Straits leads Dalai Llama out of his enclosure at their home at QD Farm in Albuquerque on Saturday. Dalai Llama turned 27-years-old on Friday and is awaiting confirmation of being recognized by Guinness World Records as the oldest llama living in captivity. (Chancey Bush/Albuquerque Journal)
Deputy Director of Training Gabe Ortiz, right, gives instructions to law enforcement cadets at the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy in Santa Fe on Sunday, January 29, 2023. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis/Albuquerque Journal)
University of New Mexico women’s basketball team celebrate after beating Colorado State, 64-59, at the unm Pit in Albuquerque on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023. (Roberto E. Rosales/Albuquerque Journal)
New Mexico Cabinet Secretary for Early Childhood Education Elizabeth Groginsky, left, speaks with Alax, the star of "The Early Show with Alax" at press conference to unveil the show at Explora Science Center and Children's Museum on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023. (Liam DeBonis/Journal)
Kami Mia Luna Trujillo, 8, from Las Cruces, left, and other students participate in a discussion with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham about school lunches. This was in the Governor's Office at the State Capitol, Thursday, January 26, 2023. (Eddie Moore/Albuquerque Journal)
A pedestrian gives the peace sign to Albuquerque police as they investigate a homicide on Mesilla near Central on Wednesday afternoon. (Chancey Bush/ Albuquerque Journal)
Albuquerque BioPark employee Nathan Poncho, cleans the duck pond at Tingley Beach on Tuesday, Jan. 26. 2023, following Monday's strong winds. Adolphe Pierre-Louis/ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL
Michael Shinabery, with the New Mexico Museum of Space History in Alamogordo, walks through the wings of the Rotunda wearing a replica of Neil Armstrong's space suit. It is Earth Science and New Mexico Tech Day at the Legislature in Santa Fe, Monday, January 23, 2023. Due to the pandemic, this is the first time booths have been set up in the wings next to the Rotunda and people visiting them since 2020. (Eddie Moore/Albuquerque Journal)
Mora County Sheriff Americk Padilla and Mora County Commissioner Veronica Serna walk through the area in the Mora County Complex on January 20, 2023, where an exercise facility, tech hub and climbing wall with be built. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and the Department of Finance and Administration awarded $2.5 million to Mora County for the Mora County Recreation/Community Center. (Eddie Moore/Albuquerque Journal)
Sen. Harold Pope Jr., D-Albuquerque, left, talks with Sen. Gerald Ortiz y Pino, D-Albuquerque, on the Senate floor in Santa Fe, Monday, January 23, 2023. (Eddie Moore/Albuquerque Journal)
Volcano Vista’s Taejhuan Hill, left, and teammate Lilliana Duncan (2) surround Sandia’s Hope Giddings in the first half on Monday night at Sandia. Hill and the Hawks beat the Matadors 59-52. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis/Journal)
The snow covered Jemez Mountains behind the hills around Chimayo, Friday, January 20, 2023. Storm left a couple inches on snow across Northern New Mexico. (Eddie Moore/Albuquerque Journal)
Julianna, with The Howeya Family Traditional Dance Group of the Acoma Pueblo, performs on the third day of American Indian Week at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque, N.M., Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023. (Chancey Bush/ Albuquerque Journal)
Eytan Krasilovsky, with the Forst Stewards Guild, sets fire to a snow covered pile of small trees and limbs on a mountain next to Glorieta Camps Thursday, January 19, 2023. He and others with the Forest Stewrds Guild and Glorieta Camps are buring over 8 acres of piles of fuel that could carry a wildfire in dryer conditions. (Eddie Moore/Albuquerque Journal)
Louie Lobo gets the crowd start of the game against Boise State Friday, Jan. 20, 2023, evening at the Pit.
(Roberto E. Rosales/Albuquerque Journal)
Albuquerque Chinese Folk Dance Ensemble perform with lanterns and streamers during Chinese New Year Celebration at the Chinese Culture Center on Sunday January 22, 2023 . (Adolphe Pierre-Louis/Albuquerque Journal)
Senator Martin Heinrich tours the future home of the Gateway Center located in the Gibson Health Hub in Southeast Albuquerque on Wednesday. Rep. Melanie Stansbury was also on tour the facility. (Chancey Bush/ Albuquerque Journal)
US Rep. Melanie Stansbury, D-N.M., tours the future home of the Gateway Center located in the Gibson Health Hub in Southeast Albuquerque, N.M., Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023. (Chancey Bush/Journal)
Albuquerque Fire Rescue Chief Gene Gallegos, left, chats with senior Juliana Hielkema, an aspiring firefighter who wants to increase the representation of women in the department, at Manzano High School on Wednesday. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis/Albuquerque Journal)
UNM Lobo Morris Udeze, center, celebrates after scoring against the San Jose State Spartans in the Pit on Tuesday. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis/Albuquerque Journal)
As clouds covered the Sandia Mountains on Tuesday, Albuquerque saw a cold rain that dropped from .10 inches to .25 inches throughout the city. (Chancey Bush/Albuquerque Journal)
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham delivers her State of the State address to a join session of the House and Senate at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe, Tuesday January 17, 2023. Tuesday is the start of the 2023 legislative session (Eddie Moore/Albuquerque Journal)
From left, Maegan Pacheco, Edward Pacheco and Joanna Alvarez, a mariachi band call Euforia from Santa Fe, perform from the press room before the start of the 2023 legislative session, Tuesday, January 17, 2023. (Eddie Moore/Albuquerque Journal)
House Min. Leader Ryan Lane, left, R-Azrtec, talks Rep. Rod Montoya, R-Farmington, at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe, Tuesday January 17, 2023. Tuesday is the start of the legislative session. (Eddie Moore/Albuquerque Journal)
House Speaker Javier Martinez, D-Albuquerque, hugs his wife Diana after being elected as House Speaker at the start of the 2023 regular session of the New Mexico legislature. (Eddie Moore/Albuquerque Journal)
Navajo President Buu Nygren, center, talks with Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, left, and U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury, right, during the first day of the 2023 legislative session, Tuesday, January 17, 2023. (Eddie Moore/Albuquerque Journal)
Albuquerque SWAT officers take Solomon Pena into custody Monday afternoon in Southwest Albuquerque. (Roberto E. Rosales/Albuquerque Journal)
Benito Sisneros, with the State Capitol's security, screens Cayden Diamond, 14, daughter of Sen. Crystal Diamond, R-Elephant Butte, as she enters the Roundhouse. (Eddie Moore/Albuquerque JournaL)
Cadets start their 1.5 mile run during the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy physical assessment tests held at the academy. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis/Albuquerque Journal)
Children hand out “Li xi” or lucky money to members of the Van Hanh Lion Dancers during the Vietnamese Lunar New Year Celebration at Holy Ghost Catholic School in Albuquerque on Sunday Jan. 15 2023. The Vietnamese community rang in the Year of the Cat during Sunday's event. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis/Albuquerque Journal)
Kiet Vuong, left, and Bach Tran light incense at an alter to pay tribute to their ancestors during the Vietnamese Lunar New Year Celebration at the Holy Ghost Catholic School in Albuquerque on Sunday, January 15, 2023. The Vietnamese community in Albuquerque rang in the Year of the Cat during Sunday's festivity. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis/Albuquerque Journal)
Tony Joezamora, as Superman, leaps outside in the Civic Plaza during the Albuquerque Comic Con 2023 at the Albuquerque Convention Center in Downtown Albuquerque, N.M., Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023. (Chancey Bush/ Albuquerque Journal)
Curtis Nickols holds his year-old granddaughter, Aiyanna, while marching with his 9-year-old daughter, Goldie, during the Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative March in Albuquerque on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023. (Chancey Bush/ Albuquerque Journal)
Participants in the Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative March make their way down the avenue named for the civil rights leader on Saturday in Albuquerque. (Chancey Bush/ Albuquerque Journal)
Anfernee Jake admires his latest tattoo by tattoo artist Rocket at Albuquerque Ink on Friday the 13th. (Roberto E. Rosales/Albuquerque Journal)
Chassity Garcia, Heading Home executive director, stands inside the men’s shelter full of emergency beds at the Gibson Health Hub in Southeast Albuquerque, N.M., Friday, Jan. 13, 2023. (Chancey Bush/ Albuquerque Journal)
Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller, left, tours the Gibson Health Hub facilities on Friday. (Chancey Bush/Albuquerque Journal)
Maj. Kyle Konkolics gets a hug from his mother-in-law, Ann Bendan, after receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross during a ceremony at Kirtland Air Force Base on Wednesday. Konkolics and four other airmen were recognized for their roles in the successful rescue of an American being held for ransom in Nigeria in 2020. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis/Albuquerque Journal)
Lobos senior Shaiquel McGruder (13) flexes after a play as she cheers on her teammates from during the second half as the University of New Mexico women’s Lobos basketball team play against Nevada Wolf Pack at The Pit in Albuquerque, N.M., on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023. The Lobos won the game against Nevada Wolf Pack by a score of 88-58. (Chancey Bush/Albuquerque Journal)
Lobos react during the second half as the University of New Mexico women’s Lobos basketball team play against Nevada Wolf Pack at The Pit in Albuquerque, N.M., on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023. The Lobos won the game against Nevada Wolf Pack by a score of 88-58. (Chancey Bush/Albuquerque Journal)
Delfin Martinez, a certified occupational therapy assistant at CHRISTUS St. Vincent Regional Medical Center, looks at a new rehabilitation service vehicle unveiled outside the Santa Fe hospital, Wednesday, January 11, 2023. The car, a Mazda 3, was modified to help patients recovering from strokes to relearn how to get in and out of a vehicle. The vehicle was modified and donated by the Automotive Technologies department at Santa Fe Community College. (Eddie Moore/Albuquerque Journal)
Christus St. Vincent President and CEO Lillian Montoya, right, and Delfin Martinez put a “Javier” plate on the vehicle in remembrance of the late Santa Fe County commissioner and Santa Fe Mayor Javier Gonzales, who played a large role in getting the rehabilitation services vehicle, a modified Mazda 3, in place. (Eddie Moore/Albuquerque Journal)
Newly appointed New Mexico Public Regulation Commissioners met for the first time in their new location in Santa Fe, Wednesday, January 11, 2023. Commissioner James F. Ellison Jr., left, introduced himself vai Zoom. Commissioner Patrick O'Connell, right, and Commissioner Gabriel Aguilera, second from right, appeared in person. Michael Smith, center, is the general council and interim chief of staff. (Eddie Moore/Albuquerque Journal)
Mary Wilson enjoys freshly made tortillas at Duran Central Pharmacy on Historic Route 66 in Albuquerque, N.M., Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. (Chancey Bush/Albuquerque Journal)
Pat and Bess Harris, from Santa Fe, walk their dogs Bandit, left, and Sunny on the Santa Fe River Trail near San Ysidro Crossing Tuesday, January 3, 2023. The temperature is below freezing and the wind made the walk short. (Eddie Moore/Albuquerque Journal)
An American Kestrel lands on the exhaust pipe on an old tractor in a farm field off Rio Grande Blvd., Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 3. 2023. The American Kestrel is the smallest falcon in New Mexico and is roughly the size of an American Robin. Don’t let the tiny stature fool you, though, because this raptor is an accomplished hunter. (/Roberto E. Rosales/ Albuquerque Journal)
FBI Special Agent in Charge Raul Bujanda stands next to an estimated $100,000 worth of suspected stolen merchandise and recovered weapons at the FBI Field Office in Albuquerque, N.M., on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. The items were recovered on January 4, in the North Valley after the FBI Violent Gang Task Force obtained federal search warrants to sweep four StorWise Self Storage units on 2nd Street rented by convicted felon and associate of the Brew Town Locos gang, Leonard J. Lucero. Agents discovered hundreds of items ranging from power tools, TV’s, air compressors, appliances, and other merchandise. Lucero’s residence was also searched, finding additional firearms and ammunition. In total, 51 firearms, thousands of rounds of ammunition, more than 300 bottles of alcohol and several large bags of marijuana were found inside the storage units. (Chancey Bush/ Albuquerque Journal)
A passenger checks the status of his flight at the Albuquerque Sunport, Wednesday January 11 2023, after all U.S. flights were grounded due to an FAA system outage. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis/Albuquerque Journal)
Del Norte High School's Deion Jim and Shane Douma-Sanchez, left defend Highland High School's Raul Stanford during the boys basketball game at Highland on Tuesday January 10 2023. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis/Albuquerque Journal)
Pugilist, Matthew “Diamond Boy” Griego-Ortega, signs an autograph after a press conference at the Jack Candelaria Community Center in Albuquerque, N.M. on January 10, 2023. Griego-Ortega’s next fight, The Rumble at Revel, is scheduled for February 4th, 2023. (Mike Sandoval for the Albuquerque Journal)
Jamie Cizek, 29, catches air, Monday Jan. 9, 2022, on a warm afternoon at the Los Altos Skate Park in Albuquerque .High temperatures will be in the 50s, with a 10% chance of precipitation on Tuesday and Wednesday. Adolphe Pierre-Louis/ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL
The Howl Raisers, the name of the UNM student section, cheer on the Lobos during a Jan. 9 game in the Pit against Oral Roberts. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis/Albuquerque Journal)
Mayor Tim Keller, right is joined by Albuquerque Police Department Chief Harold Medina to announce that they have a suspect in custody believed to be targeting elected officials homes and offices on Monday January 9, 2023. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis/ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL)
New Mexico Chief Justice Shannon Bacon, right, and Justice Michael Vigil question attorney Sara Sanchez, representing top Democratic legislatures, during the oral arguments of a law suit against the redrawn district maps for New Mexico's congressional representatives. This was during a Supreme Court Hearing in Santa Fe, Monday, January 9, 2023. (Eddie Moore/Albuquerque Journal)
Flora, a Chihuahua pregnant with five puppies, finds refuge beneath furniture in Debbie Stubblefield’s Edgewood home. Stubblefield is caring for three Chihuahuas that survived a recent traffic crash. (Eddie Moore/Albuquerque Journal)
Edgewood’s Debbie Stubblefield caresses Crysta, a long-haired Chihuahua. Stubblefield is providing a foster home for Crysta and two other Chihuahuas that are among 64 of the small dogs recovered from a vehicle crash near Vaughn last week. “They have been through a lot,” she said. (Eddie Moore/Albuquerque Journal)
UNM Lobos Josiah Allick, left and Jaelen House show their dejection in the final moment of their loss to UNLV Rebels at the Pit ,Lobos lost 84-77 . The game was sold out .Photographed on Saturday January 7 , 2023. Adolphe Pierre-Louis/ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL
Lobo Fan Jeremiah Lopez, 8 , right , lights his cell phone in the Pit to support their 14-1 team before the UNM Lobos against UNLV Rebels Men's Basketball game. The game was sold out .Photographed on Saturday January 7 , 2023. Adolphe Pierre-Louis/ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL
Lobo Fans light their cell phones in the Pit to support their 14-1 team before the UNM Lobos against UNLV Rebels Men's Basketball game. The game was sold out .Photographed on Saturday January 7 , 2023. Adolphe Pierre-Louis/ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL
Rev. Father Nikolay Miletkov leads a prayer during the Blessing at the Rio Grande by All Saints of North America Orthodox Church. The wooden cross was retrieved by parishioner Matthew Langley .Photographed on Sunday January 8 , 2023. Adolphe Pierre-Louis/ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL
All Saints of North America Orthodox Church parishioners follows a cross bearer, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023, during the Blessing at the Rio Grande. The ceremony, which includes a procession to the river, marks the Sunday of Theophany and commemorates the baptism of Christ in the Jordan River Adolphe Pierre-Louis/ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL
Rev. Father Nikolay Miletkov tosses a cross in to the Rio Grande during the Blessing of the Rio Grande by All Saints of North America Orthodox Church on Sunday January 8, 2023. The ceremony, which includes a procession to the river, marks the Sunday of Theophany and commemorates the baptism of Christ in the Jordan River Adolphe Pierre-Louis/Albuquerque Journal
People walk with their sleds back up to the top of the hill near the 10K Trailhead in the Cibola National Forest in New Mexico, Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022. (Chancey Bush/ Albuquerque Journal)
A flock of Sandhill cranes perch on a sandbar on the Rio Grande in the Bosque north of Alameda Blvd. bridge in Albuquerque, N.M., Friday, Dec. 30, 2022. (Chancey Bush/ Albuquerque Journal)
Andrew Burke, left, and Dick Rowles, right, ride their horses in the Bosque north of Alameda Blvd. bridge in Albuquerque, N.M., Friday, Dec. 30, 2022. (Chancey Bush/ Albuquerque Journal)
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, center, standing with her brother Greg Lujan, takes her Oath of Office from retired judge and longtime friend Wendy York. This is during an inaugural ceremony at the Lensic Performing Arts Center in Santa Fe, Sunday January 1, 2023. (Eddie Moore/Albuquerque Journal)
Regal UA High Ridge movie theatre at 12921 Indian School Road in Northeast Albuquerque, N.M., Tuesday, Jan 3, 2023. The theater is closing its doors on Thursday. (Chancey Bush/ Albuquerque Journal)
Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen, from left, Albuquerque Police Department Chief of Police Harold Medina and outgoing District Attorney Raul Torrez listen as the new District Attorney Sam Bregman speaks during a press conference at the DA's office west of the District Courthouse in Albuquerque Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023.
Lobos Amaya Brown (3) cheers on her teammates during the University of New Mexico women’s basketball game against the Air Force Falcons at The Pit in Albuquerque, N.M., Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023. The Lobos won the game against the Falcons by a score of 70-58. (Chancey Bush/ Albuquerque Journal)
2023 balloons dropped, Dec. 31, 2022, as the clock struck noon for kids and their families as they celebrated the New Year at Explora Science Center and Children’s museum in Albuquerque. (Roberto E. Rosales/Albuquerque Journal)
Ray Sandoval, the New Years Eve on the Plaza event chairman, unplugs the "2023" light that, along with the Zia at right, will be raised above the Plaza at the start of the new years. This is the 8th years the event is being held on the Santa Fe Plaza. The 2023 sign is reused each year just changing the las number.
The event will start at 8 on Saturday with live bands, a reading by the Santa Fe Youth Poet Laureate and a huge fireworks show just after midnight. (Eddie Moore/Albuquerque Journal)
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