SNAPCHAT SLAY MA’S ANGUISH
‘She took everything away from us’
A heartbroken New Mexico mom on Wednesday blasted the teenage girl arrested in her son’s Snapchatfueled, hostage-scheme murder for taking “everything away from us.”
Anna Bella Dukes, 18, was taken into custody Monday for her alleged part in the murder of former correction officer Elias Otero in Albuquerque in February 2021.
Otero’s mother, Alicia Otero, told The Post the teen and others involved should rot in prison.
“I think she should pay for what she did. I think they should all get a life sentence,” Alicia said. “How could you do this to someone? She took everything away from us.”
The mother, who has been fighting for tougher state laws in the wake of her son’s death, said she would be “devastated” if Dukes ended up being released on bail under the state’s reform laws.
“We’ve had bail reform in New Mexico and it’s been a failure. They are just letting them out,” Alicia said.
Dukes is due in court Friday on murder and other charges.
Police said she was messaging Otero’s brother, Nicholas, on Snapchat when she allegedly lured Nicholas to a late-night meeting at Alvarado Park so her boyfriend, Adrian Avila,
17, and another suspect could rob him.
Nicholas had picked up Dukes from an address she said was her home before they drove to the park in his red Lexus at about 2 a.m., according to the criminal complaint.
He told police he felt he was being set up when Dukes started asking him about the necklace he was wearing, where he kept his cash and if he had a gun in the car.
Nicholas then saw that Dukes had secretly called someone on her phone — whom cops later identified as Avila — and was letting him listen in, the complaint said.
After telling Dukes he was leaving, Nicholas told investigators he spotted a second vehicle pull up behind him and saw armed suspects get out.
The suspects allegedly dragged Nicholas from his Lexus and demanded his cash, jewelry and gun.
Nicholas said he recalled seeing one of the suspects put Dukes in the second vehicle, the complaint said.
The suspects then drove Nicholas to Elias’ house and allegedly ordered Elias to bring money outside. Elias emerged from the house with his own gun and threatened to shoot the suspects, according to police.
At some point, police said, Avila fired his gun at Elias — killing him in the street. Nicholas jumped out of the car as the suspects fled, police said.
According to a text exchange included in the complaint, Dukes had sent Nicholas a message in the minutes after the robbery she allegedly arranged, saying: “Are you ok?! I ran I’m still running idk where to go.”
Avila turned himself in to police in late December and is facing the same murder charges as Dukes.