New Mexico man with dementia accused of killing, dismembering his wife

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico – On Thursday, a planned Thanksgiving family gathering turned into a nightmare when family members arrived at an Albuquerque, New Mexico, home and found the disturbing scene.

According to the Albuquerque Journal, when relatives showed up at the Denio household for a planned Thanksgiving gathering, the West Side home was locked and appeared empty.

After placing calls to 911 for a welfare check at the residence, family members decided to take action and took the hinges off a door to get inside. What they found was the thing of nightmares.

Karlan Denio, 62, was lying in bed, and his wife, Connie, was dismembered on the bedroom floor.

According to the Journal, relatives told police Karlan Denio was diagnosed two years ago with frontotemporal dementia, a disease that can manifest in dramatic personality changes, emotional withdrawal, and other mental health issues.

Denio has been charged with an open count of murder in the death of Connie Denio.

Relatives first called 911 asking for police to do a welfare check on the family when they couldn’t get inside the home, according to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court.

However, the dispatch advised them that the police couldn’t force their way in. The family decided to act and force their way into the home.

A second 911 was made Thursday afternoon after the family made entry into the home and discovered the grizzly scene. Arriving officers detained Denio at the scene and found he had cuts to his leg and neck.

Police said they found his wife “dismembered and disemboweled” in the bedroom.

According to the complaint, relatives told police that Connie Denio had arranged for everyone to gather at her home around 1 p.m.

Karlan Denio’s brother, who came in from out of town, was the first to arrive at the home and called Denio’s sister when he couldn’t get in, according to the complaint. The siblings knocked on all doors and windows and eventually took the hinges off a door to get in.

Karlan Denio’s sister made the grizzly discovery after she made her way through the dark home to enter the bedroom where she found her bother “lying on the bed” and Connie Denio deceased on the floor.

“Karlan looked at her, at which point (she) backed out of the residence and called police again,” according to the complaint.