A Taos woman’s murder conviction has been overturned by the New Mexico Supreme Court due to what justices called “outrageous prosecutorial misconduct.” The decision, announced Thursday, means Desiree Lensegrav, who was serving a 45-year sentence, will not face a retrial.
Lensegrav was convicted in 2022 for her alleged role in the 2019 kidnapping and murder of Ranchos de Taos resident Joseph Morgas. However, the state’s highest court ruled that she did not receive a fair trial, citing serious misconduct by the prosecution that violated constitutional protections against double jeopardy.
The misconduct, according to the court’s opinion written by Justice Michael E. Vigil, was so severe that retrying the case would be unconstitutional. Among the most shocking elements, an Assistant District Attorney repeatedly referred to Lensegrav as a “witch” and a “bruja” who allegedly controlled her husband through supernatural means. The prosecutor also used inflammatory and inadmissible evidence throughout the trial, including statements from a co-defendant who never testified in court.
Lensegrav and her husband, Aram Montoya, were both accused of murdering Morgas after a confrontation at a drug house. Court records show that Montoya had stabbed Lensegrav in a domestic violence incident in 2020, after which she provided police with details about Morgas’ murder. She claimed Montoya killed Morgas during a fight, then attempted to cover it up by burning and burying the body. Montoya pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and kidnapping in 2021 and is currently serving a life sentence without parole.
During Lensegrav’s 2022 trial, the prosecution initially planned to have Montoya testify but later withdrew him as a witness. Despite this, Assistant District Attorney Cosme Ripol still used Montoya’s accusations against Lensegrav in his opening statement, which the court found highly improper. The trial also included graphic evidence, including the victim’s remains, which emitted such a strong odor that the judge had to adjourn early one day. Ripol later urged jurors to convict Lensegrav, dramatically stating that the “stench of death” should be enough to prove her guilt.
The court condemned the prosecution’s tactics, calling them a “three-day-long exercise in theatrics, hyperbole, and character assassination.” The justices were also critical of Lensegrav’s defense team, noting that her attorney failed to object to most of the misconduct.
Ultimately, the Supreme Court’s decision means Lensegrav will not face another trial, bringing an unexpected end to a case that has gripped the Taos community for years.
