N.M. 'secret society' leader and girlfriend accused of killing his 21-year-old ex with sword

SANTA FE, N.M. (TCD) -- A 25-year-old man and his 19-year-old girlfriend were arrested and charged with murder after they allegedly stabbed his ex-girlfriend with a sword in a garage.

According to the Santa Fe Police Department, on Saturday, Oct. 29, at 1:44 p.m., officers went to a residence on the 5000 block of Jaguar Drive regarding a possible homicide, and they located a deceased female. The next day, Santa Fe Police said Kiara McCulley and her boyfriend Isaac Apodaca were taken into custody on suspicion of killing 21-year-old Grace Jennings.

Court documents cited by the Santa Fe New Mexican reportedly say Apodaca’s mother called police because he told her he found McCulley trying to kill Jennings. Police got to the home on Jaguar Drive and discovered Jennings, who had "several injuries consistent of being cut or stabbed with a sharp object."

The wounds were allegedly "consistent with attempts to decapitate."

Santa Fe Police Capt. Aaron Ortiz told the Santa Fe New Mexican that investigators found a metal sword at the scene.

McCulley and Apodaca reportedly live together in the detached garage at McCulley’s mother’s home. On Friday, Oct. 28, the night before she was found dead, Jennings allegedly slept at Apodaca and McCulley’s residence.

McCulley allegedly kicked Jennings and Apodaca out on the morning of Oct. 29. Apodaca allegedly went inside the home to use the restroom at noon, and when he returned, Jennings was dead.

Police, however, reportedly found text messages between McCulley and Apodaca discussing how they would “clean up the mess” of Jennings' body. Apodaca reportedly said McCulley was “planning” on killing Jennings and had been thinking about it for two years.

He also allegedly told McCulley in a text message, "I am wanting you to kill her, you have to end your suffering by ending her joy."

According to the Albuquerque Journal, which also cites the criminal complaint, McCulley allegedly told investigators Apodaca runs a secret society called "Ghost," whose purpose is to get "rid of people who are in charge of sex trafficking or hurting kids."

Apodaca allegedly told McCulley she "could get ranked up in her platoon" if she killed Jennings.

McCulley reportedly told Santa Fe Police she does not remember what happened Saturday and believes that is because she has an undiagnosed personality disorder.

The Santa Fe New Mexican reports Jennings got engaged in August during a birthday celebration.

Jennings’ aunt, Katherine Jennings, told the Santa Fe New Mexican, "She was the laughter; she was the joy, the singing, the dancing. She was the friend; she was the sister; she was the daughter, the beloved niece, the cousin. She was just a beautiful soul with a lot of hope."

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