Press release: Woman pleads to second-degree murder

Clovis, NM ~ Ninth Judicial District Attorney Matthew Chandler announced today that Robin Bannister, age 54, was convicted of Second Degree Murder for the death of Clifford Webber. Bannister now faces a maximum sentence of fifteen (15) years in the New Mexico State Penitentiary.

The charges stem from an incident that occurred in the month of June of 2009. On June 16, 2009, Clovis Police Department received a call from a witness that told police a person was dead in a vacant house in Clovis. The Clovis Police Department responded and discovered a decomposed body, and the Major Crimes Unit was activated to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death. The investigation revealed that the victim was Clifford Webber, age 38, of Clovis. It was also learned that Mr. Webber was dating Robin Bannister at the time of the murder. Law enforcement discovered that Bannister and Webber began arguing over alcohol on approximately June 10th, and during the argument Bannister stabbed Webber in the chest one-time causing his death. Over the next several days, Webber’s body remained in Bannister’s house until she moved it to a vacant house next door where it was discovered by the Clovis Police on June 16th.

District Attorney Matthew Chandler stated, “The success of this case rests solely on the shoulders of our police officers and Major Crimes Unit. Despite uncooperative witnesses and tampered crime scenes, the officers were able to solve this murder in a timely fashion and in a manner that the one responsible could be brought to justice swiftly.”

The Court is set to sentence Robin Bannister for her murder conviction on August 11, 2010. She will remain in custody pending sentencing and faces the maximum penalty for 2nd Degree Murder in New Mexico, which is fifteen (15) years in the New Mexico Department of Corrections.

For further information concerning this case, please contact the Ninth Judicial District Attorney’s Office.