Santa Fe, New Mexico – A woman was found guilty of murder for causing a fatal crash that resulted in the deaths of a former Las Vegas firefighter and a Santa Fe police officer after a four-day trial. Jeannine Jaramillo, 49, faced seven charges, including two counts of first-degree murder, for her role in the tragic incident.
The fatal crash took place on March 2, 2022, when Jaramillo led law enforcement on a high-speed chase through the streets of Santa Fe and onto Interstate 25. She drove the wrong way, heading south in the northbound lanes, and collided with two patrol vehicles and the car of Frank Lovato, a retired firefighter.
Both Lovato and Santa Fe police officer Robert Duran lost their lives in the crash. Initially, Jaramillo claimed she was kidnapped by her ex-boyfriend and forced to lead police on the chase. However, forensic evidence presented during the trial proved she was alone in the vehicle, acting on her own accord.
During the trial, it was revealed that Jaramillo had written a letter to state police admitting to her actions, stating she was scared, on drugs, and did not anticipate the tragic outcome. Despite her confession, her attorney argued that her actions did not demonstrate intent for first-degree murder convictions.
Nevertheless, the jury unanimously found Jaramillo guilty on all seven charges. She now faces the possibility of life in prison for the murder convictions alone, with a sentencing date yet to be determined.
Engineer Lovato, who was honored with a memorial by the Las Vegas Fire Department following his death, had dedicated his life to serving the community as a firefighter. Starting as a volunteer firefighter at the young age of 18, Lovato worked his way up the ranks and retired as an Engineer in 2006 after decades of service to the city.