New Mexico State Police Weekend Arrests Child Abuse and Murder Charges

On April 1st, 2025, New Mexico State Police officers were dispatched to Presbyterian Hospital in Espanola for an unresponsive 15-month-old child.

Upon arrival, officers learned the child was exposed to Fentanyl. New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau assumed the investigation, where they learned that the mother of the child, 26-year-old Ariana Vigil, claimed that the child was exposed to Fentanyl paraphernalia in the form of burnt foil.

Agents learned Vigil placed the child on the floor, where the exposure occurred, while she cleaned off the bed. Vigil told agents she then rinsed the child's mouth, believing the child had placed the drug paraphernalia in their mouth. Vigil further stated she observed the child for 10 minutes before the child became unresponsive. The child was taken to the hospital and was later pronounced deceased.

During the investigation, Vigil admitted to agents that she smokes Fentanyl and left the burnt foils on the bedroom floor. Agents obtained a search warrant for the residence where burnt foils consistent with Fentanyl use, and narcotics were located.

Vigil was arrested and booked into the Rio Arriba County Detention Center, charged with one count of Child Abuse Resulting in Death and one count of Possession of a Controlled Substance.

New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau received a cyber tip, reporting several images of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) were uploaded to a Synchronoss Technologies cloud account.

Through the investigation, agents learned that 44-year-old John Palmerin was the subscriber to the account, which was confirmed to have 17 images of child pornographic material.

United States Department of Homeland Security (HSI) assisted in this investigation by obtaining federal subpoenas for Google LLC & Synchronoss Technologies. NMSP agents analyzed and reviewed the data provided in response to the federal subpoenas. John Palmerin was confirmed as the account owner for both the phone number and email address associated with the CSAM.

On April 2nd, 2025, a search warrant was executed at Palmerin's residence, where dozens more CSAM was located on various devices.

Palmerin was arrested and charged with Sexual Exploitation of Children (Possession) and booked into the Sierra County Adult Detention Center.

New Mexico State Police sincerely thanks the New Mexico Department of Justice Internet Crimes Against Children agents and Homeland Security Investigations for their invaluable partnership with NMSP in protecting children and bringing offenders to justice.

On April 1, 2025, the New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau investigated a shooting at 5 Prairie Hill Road in Las Vegas, NM.

Investigations Bureau agents learned at approximately 1:30 p.m., NMSP uniform officers were dispatched to 5 Prairie Hill Road in reference to a 20-year-old male who had been shot. When officers arrived, they observed the victim, Trevor Szalai, lying on the ground. Officers also observed a male, identified as Cody Ramone (21) providing aid to Szalai. A shotgun was seen on the ground near both males. Emergency Medical Services were called to the business, but Szalai succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Office of the Medical Investigator.

Agents later learned Szalai and Ramone had a verbal argument that turned physical prior to the shooting. At some point during the altercation, a shotgun was brandished, and after a brief struggle, the shotgun was fired at least once, striking Szalai.

Ramone was arrested and booked into the San Miguel County Detention Center on the charge of 2nd degree murder.

This incident remains under investigation by the New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau.

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