Woman acquitted of murder, convicted of kidnapping in killing of 16-year-old boy

A jury on Monday convicted 20-year-old Mariana Gomez-Salinas of kidnapping but acquitted her of murder in the 2024 shooting death of a 16-year-old boy at a remote site on Albuquerque’s West Mesa.

Gomez-Salinas was one of several co-defendants arrested in the May 18, 2024, killing of Jesus Quintana Cota at Parajito Mesa.

An older, unidentified man who allegedly fired the fatal shot remains at large, said Gomez-Salinas’ attorney, Christopher C. Marlowe.

The 2nd Judicial District Court jury deliberated about nine hours on Thursday and Monday before convicting Gomez-Salinas of kidnapping, tampering with evidence and conspiracy for her role in Cota’s killing. But jurors acquitted her of first-degree murder, aggravated robbery and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Gomez-Salinas faces a sentence of about 22½ years in prison. Her sentencing hearing before District Judge Joseph Montano has not been scheduled.

Gomez-Salinas, who was 16 at the time, “was used by the boys” to arrange a date with Cota using text and social media messages, which led to his killing, Marlowe said.

“If she hadn’t done it they would have killed her,” he said.

A co-defendant, Daniel Medrano Garcia, 19, is charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping and other charges and is scheduled for trial Dec. 8.

A second co-defendant, Dominik Marquez, 19, pleaded guilty Sept. 9 to first-degree murder, armed robbery, tampering with evidence and two counts of conspiracy and faces a sentencing range of 12 to 22 years in prison at a sentencing hearing scheduled Nov. 21.

Prosecutors said the killing may have been in revenge for an April 1, 2024, incident that was reported to Albuquerque police, according to a criminal complaint filed in Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court.

In the April 1 incident, Cota allegedly shot at a white Chrysler 300 that belonged to Medrano Garcia in Northwest Albuquerque.

Sheriff’s office investigators interviewed Gomez-Salinas, who allegedly said that Marquez and Medrano Garcia asked for her help “because they needed to talk to him and he was hiding,” the complaint said.

Gomez-Salinas allegedly drove Cota to a location near Dennis Chavez and Atrisco Vista, where he was beaten by Marquez and Medrano Garcia, the complaint said.

The group then picked up an unidentified “older Mexican man” who pointed a rifle at Cota, the complaint said.

They told Gomez-Salinas to drive out to Pajarito Mesa, “where they got out and she heard fighting and gunshots,” the complaint said. “They got back in the truck but Jesus (Cota) did not.”