Man sentenced to life for murdering wife in Southern New Mexico desert
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — A 57-year-old Louisiana man, described by prosecutors as a career criminal, was found guilty of killing his wife and tampering with evidence by an Otero County jury on Friday, May 23, the 12th Judicial District Attorney's Office (Alamogordo) announced on Sunday night.
Shaun Castain LeFleur, 57, of Louisiana, was found guilty in his wife Nancy LeFleur's murder and was sentenced to life in prison, the DA's Office said.
He will be nearly 90 years old before he is eligible for parole, the DA's Office said.
LeFleur and his wife came to Otero County in late 2023. Shaun LeFleur was living on the run and forcing his wife to come along with him, the DA's Office said.
After beating his wife in late 2023, LeFleur was convicted in the Otero County Magistrate Court of battery against a household member, the DA's Office said.
At the time of the conviction, LeFleur had already murdered his wife and buried her in a shallow grave in the desert just north of Oliver Lee State Park, outside of Alamogordo.
About two months after Nancy LeFleur's murder, a citizen came forward and told authorities that Shaun LeFleur had murdered his wife and buried her in the desert, the DA's Office said.
The New Mexico State Police were called in and led the investigation. Shortly after, Nancy LeFleur's body was discovered buried in a shallow grave approximately 1 mile north of Oliver Lee State Park.
The site of the burial was just mere feet from a spot where LeFleur had previously been seen camped at, the DA's Office said.
The ensuing investigation revealed that Shaun LeFleur and his wife Nancy had been camped near the dispersed camping area outside of the state park south of Alamogordo. From there, Shaun LeFleur moved his camp north into the desert area well away from other people.
Shaun LeFleur then began searching the Internet for local places where he could purchase a gun and potential places in Mexico where he could flee to, according to the DA's Office.
Then, late one night in February 2024, he forced his wife out of their tent and onto her knees. LeFleur then murdered her in an execution-style shooting, the DA's Office said.
He wrapped her body in a tarp and buried her before fleeing to Texas, the DA's Office said.
A month later, LeFleur returned to the scene of the murder and set up camp in an effort to discourage people from stumbling upon the body.
The investigation spanned multiple states and multiple search warrants were executed. In April of 2024, LeFleur was arrested by the New Mexico State Police while parked alongside the Sunspot highway just outside of Cloudcroft.
The case was investigated by the New Mexico State Police and prosecuted by District Attorney Ryan Suggs along with Chief Deputy District Attorney Michael Tighe and Assistant District Attorney Taylor Weary.
Suggs said after the trial: 'This was an extremely tough case to piece together. I'm extremely proud of my team of prosecutors and staff who worked tirelessly alongside me for the duration of this case. I'm thankful that we were able to bring LeFleur to justice and give the family the closure that they deserved.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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