On August 21, 2024, EWU Bodycam unveiled chilling footage on their YouTube channel, shedding light on the tragic and horrific events surrounding Karlan Denio, a man suffering from Frontotemporal Dementia who brutally mur*ered his wife.
A Thanksgiving Gathering Turns Tragic
It all began on November 24, 2022, when Karlan and Connie Denio, a retired couple, invited family over to their Albuquerque, New Mexico home for Thanksgiving dinner. Darin Denio, Karlan’s brother, was the first to arrive.
But when no one answered the door, concern set in.
Darin picked up his sister, Tami Pacheco, and her son, Taylor, and returned to Karlan’s house. Still unable to get inside, a worried Tami called 9-1-1, requesting a welfare check on her brother.
“We need a welfare check, something’s wrong. We can’t get in the house, and they’re expecting everyone over for Thanksgiving,” Tami urgently told the dispatcher.
She also mentioned Karlan’s struggle with Frontotemporal Dementia, the same condition Robin Williams had.
Despite Connie’s constant care, Tami’s fears grew. She recalled a conversation with Connie the previous day, where Connie mentioned Karlan was having a particularly hard time.
The Shocking Discovery
The situation turned dark when Taylor called 9-1-1, sounding distressed and horrified.
“Yeah, we have a homicide with my uncle,” Taylor reported. “My uncle’s wife, my aunt—he killed her. She’s dismembered.”
Tami, visibly shaken, also spoke with the dispatcher, describing the gruesome scene she had stumbled upon in her brother’s bedroom.
“I opened the bedroom door, and there are pieces of her on the floor,” Tami said, struggling to comprehend the horror.
“I looked at him, and he kinda looked at me, but there are pieces of her all over the bedroom.”
As the reality of the situation sank in, Tami, in disbelief, grappled with the fact that her brother, who couldn’t harm a fly, had committed such a heinous act.
The Police Response and Karlan’s Apprehension
When the police arrived, they were briefed on Karlan’s dementia and his past suicidal thoughts. The family had even taken precautions, like asking Connie to keep knives out of the house. The police soon spotted Karlan in the garage, appearing disoriented and frightened.
Reassuring him that they meant no harm, the police apprehended Karlan without using lethal force. Despite his injuries, Karlan made bizarre statements that left officers bewildered.
“There is no help for me. I have already died,” he declared, adding to the eerie atmosphere of the scene.
The officers then entered the house, where the horrifying crime scene left them traumatized. One officer, overwhelmed by the gruesome sight, ran outside to vomit.
Karlan’s Confession and Decline
In the hospital, Karlan’s strange proclamations continued, even as he confessed to the crime. He admitted that his hatred, which had been “building for years,” finally erupted on that tragic day.
“I just jumped out of bed and decided today was the day… to inflict that much pain on Connie, unfortunately, and on myself,” Karlan explained.
📣Help us find Karlan📣
— Gilbert Police Dept. (@GilbertPolice) June 24, 2020
Karlan Denio (60yo) went missing around Lindsay/Pecos at 3:15pm today in a 2012 silver Ford Taurus. Karlan is 6ft tall, 125lbs and was last seen wearing jeans and a red plaid shirt. If you have seen Karlan or have any info, please call ☎️480-503-6500☎️ pic.twitter.com/5B0d0AWm6W
When asked why he committed the murder, Karlan’s answer was chillingly brief: “It’s the hatred I had for everybody and the man upstairs. I was taking revenge on God.”
As Karlan’s health rapidly declined, he passed away in the hospital on December 14, 2022. The charges against him were subsequently dropped.
