A Cloudcroft woman has been arrested and charged in connection with the death of her husband, whose body was discovered wrapped in plastic and hidden beneath debris outside their home, according to newly released court documents. Deana Rene Thetford was taken into custody in Wichita County, Texas, on July 8 and is currently being held in jail without bond on charges of murder and tampering with evidence.
According to investigators, Deana is accused of killing her husband, Craig Thetford, whose body was found on June 17 at the couple’s residence on Heather Way in Cloudcroft, New Mexico. The body was concealed under blankets, rugs, and carpet in the carport. The investigation began after multiple family members requested a welfare check on Craig around May 12, stating they had not heard from him since January.
On May 15, a deputy from the Otero County Sheriff’s Office visited the home and spoke with Deana. She claimed the couple was divorcing and said Craig had gone to Mexico with a new girlfriend to go fishing. She also told the deputy that Craig had taken $1 million to $1.5 million in cash from their safe.
However, investigators later discovered that Craig had not crossed the border since 2023. At a separate time, Deana reportedly changed her story, claiming Craig had broken his phone, gotten a new one, and traveled to Texas to care for his mother — a statement his family refuted.
During the welfare check, the deputy also noted a large hole in the front yard. Deana claimed it was intended for a raised garden bed. She also said the home’s security cameras had never worked, though court documents later revealed the camera system hardware had been removed.
According to Deana’s daughter — Craig’s stepdaughter — her mother confessed to shooting Craig multiple times after a fight in which he allegedly pushed her down the stairs. She further admitted to leaving his body for up to two days, then using a tractor to move it to the carport, court documents state.
A search warrant executed on June 17 revealed Craig’s body, his clothes missing, and a safe that still contained over $84,000 in cash, along with multiple firearms and ammunition. Investigators also learned Deana had purchased property in Seymour, Texas, earlier this year with a cash offer, and had recently given her truck to her son while buying a Ford Mustang.
At least two additional sources reported that Deana had confessed to the killing, and the Office of the Medical Investigator ruled Craig’s death a homicide, estimating he had been deceased for several weeks to months.