SANTA FE, N.M. – Santa Fe police found a missing 69-year-old woman dead in her home and later arrested a 30-year-old woman in the woman’s stolen vehicle.
The Santa Fe Police Department said officers found Maria Beaman Gordon, 69, dead at her Santa Fe home on Thursday afternoon. Detectives continue to investigate her death and await the Office of the Medical Investigator’s ruling on the cause of death.
A family member reported Gordon missing on Oct. 29 after last having contact with her on Oct. 6 at 9:50 a.m. Police said detectives later learned Patrol Team A officers had contacted Gordon’s vehicle on Oct. 23 near Santa Fe Railyard Park.
Police said the vehicle was spray-painted and had no license plate. The driver, Passion Lovette Stiglman, 30, of Santa Fe, told officers the vehicle belonged to her sister. Officers identified Gordon as the registered owner but could not reach her because the registration listed a previous address.
When officers learned Gordon had moved in recent months, detectives went to her home and found her dead inside. Police said signs indicated she had died several days earlier. Detectives saw no immediate signs of foul play and said Gordon’s family received notification.
Gordon’s stolen vehicle
After detectives learned about the earlier contact with Gordon’s vehicle, officers entered it into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) as stolen.
On Thursday at about 10:40 p.m., Patrol Team C officers saw Stiglman driving the stolen vehicle near Galisteo Street and Water Street. Officers stopped the vehicle at Water Street and Don Gaspar Avenue.
Police said the vehicle had a different license plate installed and Stiglman showed signs of impairment. A DWI officer came to the scene to investigate impaired driving and the Crime Scene Unit processed the scene for evidence.
Officers arrested Stiglman on charges of unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, DWI, no license and no seatbelt. Police booked her into the Santa Fe County Adult Detention Center.
Police said the case remains under active investigation. Anyone with information can contact Detective Rebecca Hilderbrandt at 505 955-5265 or rrhilderbrandt@santafenm.gov.
