Santiago Martinez of Taos Pueblo pleaded guilty in federal court to voluntary manslaughter for the death of his girlfriend, artist DeAnna Autumn Leaf Suazo, Diné from Taos Pueblo, following a late-night argument in Taos, New Mexico, November 2021.

According to court records, on Nov. 12, 2021, Martinez and Suazo were at their shared home, where they consumed alcohol and listened to music in her vehicle. Early in the morning hours, the couple engaged in a heated argument outside their home about the future of their relationship, during which Suazo reiterated her desire to end things. The argument escalated into a physical altercation, leading to Martinez to pull Suazo's earring from her ear and then intentionally run over Suazo with her SUV, resulting in her death due to mechanical asphyxia and blunt trauma.

Although Martinez had consumed alcohol, he acknowledged being aware of his actions and their wrongfulness at the time of the incident.

Suazo was the daughter of Navajo artists Geraldine Tso and David Gary Suazo, a Taos Pueblo painter. She celebrated her Indigenous heritage through figural paintings of strong Indigenous women, blending traditional and contemporary styles with inspiration from Japanese manga.

Suazo's work was exhibited nationwide, including at the IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts and the Balzer Contemporary Edge Gallery. In 2022, IAIA established the DeAnna Autumn Leaf Suazo Memorial Fund for Indigenous female artists in the MFA in Studio Arts Program, honoring her legacy and contributions to the art world.

At sentencing, Martinez faces between 10 and 15 years in prison followed by at least three years of supervised release.

Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrin and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement March 31.

The Santa Fe Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Taos Pueblo Department of Public Safety. Assistant United States Attorneys Zachary Jones and Nora Wilson are prosecuting the case.