Teen faces murder charges over plot to kill parents for inheritance

A 19-year-old man has been charged with murdering his parents after allegedly spending weeks plotting their deaths with friends in a bid to take over their money and possessions.

Darren Munoz faces two counts of murder following the deaths of his father, Oscar Steve Munoz and his stepmother, Dina Munoz at the family home in Clovis, New Mexico.

According to an arrest affidavit cited by ABC7 News and reported by the Mirror, Munoz is accused of planning the killings over ‘several weeks or months’ with two associates.

Police were called to the house after a report of a burglary in progress by Munoz himself.

When officers arrived, Munoz allegedly met them outside and insisted everything was fine. He then tried to stop police from checking on his parents, claiming they were asleep and naked.

Moments later, officers watched him walk into the bedroom and return with his hands ‘covered in blood’, court documents say.

Inside, police found Dina Munoz dead. Oscar Munoz was still alive but critically injured. He later died in hospital.

Investigators say one of Munoz’s friends told police the teenager believed he would inherit a large sum of money if his father and stepmother were killed. The affidavit states the plan was driven by a desire to gain control of the couple’s finances and belongings.

Another suspect, Julio Zamora, allegedly admitted that Munoz had asked him to carry out the murders. Zamora now faces two counts of murder and conspiracy to commit murder.