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LAS CRUCES - A Las Cruces felon will spend the rest of his life in prison for gunning down a random Juarez man - in front of his fiancee and child - in 2005.
Kenneth Carson Rauch, 51, was convicted on all counts just three days after trial began before 3rd Judicial District Court Judge Lisa Schultz.
A jury took less than two hours to find him guilty of murder, attempted murder, possession of a firearm by a felon, false imprisonment, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and extortion, and sentenced him to life in prison, plus 23 years.
"He got a shotgun," said Deputy District Attorney Susan Riedel. "He went and bought high-powered ammunition for that shotgun - high-powered buckshot. He had a number of shells. And he altered the gun so that it would hold more shells without having to be reloaded. He left the house, told his girlfriend he would not be back. He had been expressing that he was very depressed that day and very sad. And he left the house, he walked to the Shell station and shot into the car."
It was at the gas station that Rauch saw Eusebio Escobedo, 27, his fiancée, New Mexico State University student Lucia Aldaba, and their 3-year-old son, approached their car and fired a shot at each of the adults. Escobedo was shot in the head as he threw himself onto his fiancée, who was sitting in the driver's seat and escaped injury.
Rauch's attorney, Gary Mitchell, petitioned the court last year to rule Rauch incompetent to stand trial for the
Escobedo, a resident alien who was working legally in El Paso, appears to have been chosen at random.
"He was a young man who was here in the U.S., planned on marrying Lucia, had children he was supporting," Riedel said. "He was sending money to Mexico to support his disabled father. From all accounts heard, he was a very wonderful young man."
Rauch did not testify during this week's trial, but has expressed remorse for his actions, Riedel said.
Ashley Meeks can be reached at (575) 541-5462.
