Teen arrested for murder, accused of luring victim's brother online


Anna Bella Dukes / Credit: Albuquerque Police Department

An 18-year-old woman has been arrested by police in New Mexico, the second suspect accused of a kidnapping that ended in a man's murder, CBS affiliate KRQE-TV reports. Anna Bella Dukes was arrested for the February 2021 shooting death of Elias Otero, Albuquerque police announced on Monday.

Otero was shot to death last year while trying to defend his brother, who police say had been kidnapped. Dukes is accused of luring the kidnap victim through social media, police said.

Investigators said Otero's younger brother picked up a girl he met online in a red Lexus on February 11, 2021, but it turned out to be a setup orchestrated by Dukes, along with 17-year-old Adrian Avila and two other suspects.

"The suspects dragged the victim from his red Lexus and demanded cash, jewelry and a gun from him," police said in a statement. "They entered the Lexus and another vehicle, holding the victim at gunpoint and drove to the victim's residence The carjacking suspects ordered the victim to call his brother and have him bring money and a gun outside, or they would shoot and kill the victim."

Police said they drove to his home and when they arrived, the kidnapping victim's brother, 24-year-old Elias Otero, came out of the house and threatened to shoot the suspects. Police say Avila then shot Otero, killing him.

Avila turned himself in last month, KRQE reported. He was charged with an open count of murder, kidnapping, two counts of armed robbery with a deadly weapon, tampering with evidence and conspiracy to commit first degree murder.

Dukes has been charged with an open count of murder, kidnapping, two counts of armed robbery, tampering with evidence and conspiracy.

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