Murder suspect to stay in custody for now

The Questa woman accused of killing her husband in 2007 is to remain in custody for now, a Taos District Court Judge ruled Wednesday afternoon (July 16).

Natalie Lacome, 29, was arrested June 19 at her arraignment on a charge of first-degree murder for allegedly stabbing and killing her former husband, Dennis Rael of Questa.

Lacome's attorney, Darryl Bouchard, argued that his client had demonstrated excellent behavior up to and including her incarceration time, and added that because Lacome suffers from multiple sclerosis that she should be released to receive proper treatment.

Lacome wept as Bouchard described that his client should also be released on the grounds that her children were at ages where their mother's presence was necessary.

But attorney for the state David Foster cited several police reports from law enforcement in Lacome's current home in Las Cruces that testified to what Foster called "troubling behavior" that included Lacome being supposedly paranoid and accusing an undisclosed person of rape. Foster admitted that the information was unsubstantiated, but also said that after calling police on incidents, Lacome supposedly would not talk to police.

Foster also pointed out that New Mexico State University had taken steps to have Lacome expelled after hearing of the charges and dealing with what Foster called erratic behavior such as walking in circles and yelling at employees.

In any case, Judge Sam Sánchez said that he was not satisfied that Lacome had come up with a "good, solid plan" for him to consider her release at the hearing.

Lacome is accused of stabbing Rael in the neck during a fight in the couple’s home in Questa. Deputy to the First Judicial District Attorney David Foster told the court that evidence showed that Rael would not have survived his wounds even if he had gotten medical attention immediately.

Rael died in March 2007 due to a stab wound to his neck following a fight with Lacome. According to police records, New Mexico State Police were dispatched to Rael’s Questa home March 8 after receiving a call from Lacome about 6 a.m., saying Rael had stabbed her.

Police also later received a call from a neighbor who had rushed Rael to the Questa Volunteer Fire Department for two puncture wounds to either side of Rael’s neck. The fire department took Rael to Holy Cross Hospital in Taos, where Rael died hours later during surgery for his injuries.

The police report also said that when officers arrived at Rael’s house, they found Lacome on the bedroom floor  with several stab wounds of her own, which a doctor later told police appeared self-inflicted.

Police found large amounts of blood in the bed and on the floor of the bedroom. Blood was found in other parts of the house, including on household appliances and the children’s shoes. The couple’s two young sons were in the home that night and Lacome’s family has since regained custody.

Lacome, who according to police records has a history of bipolar disorder, filed for several protection orders against Rael, making allegations of domestic violence and abuse. Rael filed for divorce with custody from Lacome in October 2004, when court records show the two separated.

Defense attorney Linda Hollander told the court at the arraignment that Lacome’s bipolar disorder likely had bearing on the case.

The case was later transferred to the First Judicial District for prosecution after Eighth Judicial District Attorney Donald Gallegos excused his office from prosecution for personal reasons.

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