7-29-2024 1:56pm

Nicholas Hubbard Found Guilty of First Degree Murder in Otero County

Chris Edwards Editor

The Twelfth Judicial District Attorney, Scot D. Key, announced that on July 19, 2024, an Otero County jury convicted Nicholas Hubbard of first-degree murder (felony willful and deliberate murder), tampering with evidence, and interference with communications. The verdict came after a four-day trial before the Honorable Stephen Ochoa. The jury deliberated for approximately three and a half hours before reaching their decision.

Nicholas Hubbard’s sentencing is scheduled for September 16, 2024.

The case began on January 18, 2022, when the Alamogordo Police Department responded to a reported stabbing in the 1400 block of Juniper Street. Upon arrival, officers found Esther Y. Hubbard in the living room, severely beaten with facial deformities consistent with blunt force trauma. She was transported to Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead. Nicholas Hubbard was found in the shower with blood on several parts of his body.

The investigation revealed that Nicholas Hubbard had been acting erratically earlier in the day. His grandmother Mrs. Sutton discovered what appeared to be narcotics in his pocket and observed him consuming alcohol. Esther Hubbard, Nicholas's mother, later arrived at the home to check on him, and a violent confrontation ensued. Nicholas punched her multiple times, causing her to fall. Mrs. Sutton, his grandmother, attempted to intervene and call 911, but Nicholas took her phone away. Esther crawled to the living room, where Nicholas followed and continued to assault her with his hands and feet, resulting in her death.

An arrest warrant was issued for Nicholas Hubbard, charging him with first-degree murder, tampering with evidence, and interference with communications.

Per the release, the case was investigated by the 12th Judicial District Major Crimes Unit, which includes investigators from the 12th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, Alamogordo Police Department, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Otero County Sheriff’s Office, and Ruidoso Police Department.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorneys Daniel Sewell and Michael Heitz.