Judge sentences Jeannine Jaramillo to 60 years in prison for deadly wrong-way crash
SANTA FE, N.M. – On Thursday, two families and the Santa Fe community received justice in the form of two life sentences after a judge decided Jeannine Jaramillo will spend 60 years behind bars for lying to police and causing a deadly crash.
On March 2, 2022, Jaramillo called 911 claiming her boyfriend kidnapped her at knifepoint. That led to a high speed chase throughout Santa Fe. Eventually, Jaramillo lead them to I-25 and began driving the wrong way.
“If I could take back that day, I would I made bad choices. I was always on drugs and I was drinking, but I also have my family that I’m hurting. Putting me away many years is not going to bring them back,” Jaramillo said.
Last week, a jury found Jaramillo guilty on all counts. That includes two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Santa Fe officer Robert Duran and retired Las Vegas firefighter Frank Lovato.
In court Thursday, families shared how this day has changed their lives forever. One of them was Duran’s sister, Angela Gamino, who spoke to KOB 4 back in September when the initial plea deal fell through.
Gamino explained why she refuses to hate the woman who killed her brother.
“I couldn’t and didn’t have hate for Jaramillo. She took so much away from us, I couldn’t let her take my peace from me, too,” Gamino continued. “He cared more for her life that day than she did. My brother died trying to save her life.”
Gamino went on to explain their once tight-knit family is struggling to find each other again, after losing someone so important.
“A family that was once so close has struggled in our relationships because how does the broken help the broken?” Gamino asked.
Officer Duran’s wife, Kathleen, also spoke, sharing he became an officer in 2015, after wanting to protect his community for years. With this in mind, she asked for the maximum sentence.
“Not out of place or anger and hate. There’s no room in my heart for those emotions. I ask for the protection of others as that was the driving force behind my husband’s desire to become a police officer,” Duran said.
District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies read statements from Lovato’s grandson and daughter, saying they’ll have grief for the rest of their lives.
“We will forever feel the emptiness during every birthday, anniversary and holiday, because we no longer have my dad.”
Jaramillo’s family, including her fiancé, Jerry Chavez, addressed the judge. Chavez said the deaths weren’t premeditated and turned the situation onto Santa Fe Police, saying they should’ve followed protocol.
As Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer began to recount how she understood what happened March 2, Jaramillo interrupted her several times.
Judge Sommer: “Did you plead for mercy for your depraved actions? No, you lied. I am talking.”
Jaramillo: “I was trying to get on the freeway, the right way. I was trying to get on the freeway the right way.”
Judge Sommer: “I’m sentencing you. I’m making observations, and you may not interrupt me.”
Even after that warning, Jaramillo interrupted at least two other times.
“You have taken the life of two outstanding members of our community, a police officer and a retired, retired emergency responder. And you did so in the most egregious, deplorable way, their families, friends and fellow officers lives have been changed forever,” Judge Sommer said.
Jaramillo will likely spend the rest of her life behind bars. Sommer gave her life for each count of first-degree murder, adding up to 60 years, which will be served consecutively. With life sentences, there’s no time off for good behavior. As for Jaramillo’s lesser counts, those will be served with the second murder charge.