Court documents show death stalls murder trial in New Mexico

SAN JUAN COUNTY, NM (KRQE) – An Aztec woman's murder trial has been canceled because court records showed she died during an emergency hospital visit.

In 2022, Sierra Collins was accused of orchestrating the murder of William Johnson.

According to investigators, surveillance video shows two men getting out of an SUV outside Johnson's home, immediately opening fire and then fleeing the area.

The two men were identified as brothers Eli and Tyler Chaffin. The officers claimed Collins was in a relationship with Tyler and sent threatening messages to Johnson saying she had people who could kill him.

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While she was in custody awaiting her trial, which is scheduled to take place later this year, Collins was granted a hospital visit earlier this month because her brain function was impaired, according to court records.

The documents then show that the case was closed due to Collins' death.

Eli Chaffin pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in July and was sentenced to six years in prison. Tyler did not plead that it was second-degree murder and possession of a weapon. He was sentenced to 16 years in prison.

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