Fort Sumner man guilty in double homicide

A Fort Sumner man was found guilty Friday in a double homicide that happened in early October 2022.

The Fort Sumner jury deliberated for just over two hours. Kelby Randolph, 55, was found guilty of two counts of second-degree murder, each with a firearm enhancement, in the shooting deaths of Brian Beaver, 48, and his wife Rachelle Beaver, 38.

Sentencing will be soon, according to Judge James Waylon Counts in his concluding address to the court.

Special Prosecutor Andrea Reeb said Randolph faces a maximum sentence of 32 years in prison.

In her final arguments, Reeb outlined there was no clear motive for the shooting.

Reeb played body cam footage from De Baca County Deputy Paul Nunez walking with Randolph through Randolph’s house through the crime scene with Brian dead in a recliner and Rachelle dead on the floor.

Reeb noted that a relative of Randolph’s drove by the scene and asked Randolph what was going on, to which Randolph said there had been a murder and he was probably going to prison. Randolph said the victims were “freeloaders.”

“We have multiple admissions to his best friend that he committed murder,” Reeb told the court in her closing argument.

Reeb described how investigators believe Rachelle was shot first, in the head, followed by Brian with three shots.

Reeb also focused on text messages and calls by Randolph.

One text from Randolph to a friend, about 2 a.m. the day of the shooting, read: “I’m pretty sure my end is near.”

“There should be no doubt that the defendant killed Brian and Rachelle Beaver,” Reeb told jurors.

In his final arguments, defense attorney Tomas Benavidez alleged the Beavers were killed in a “drug deal gone bad.” He argued the Beavers were not killed by Randolph but by an assailant who has not been arrested.

Benavidez alleged Randolph walked in his home and found the Beavers already dead.

In making his case, Benavidez noted autopsies showed both of the Beavers had notable amounts of methamphetamine in their systems.

Reeb alleged the incident involved premeditation on Randolph’s part.

She said Randolph did not report the shootings to the Sheriff’s Department for one hour and 45 minutes after he said he found their bodies.

Benavidez had argued Randolph did not have the “presence of mind” to call the Sheriff’s Department immediately.

Reeb told the court Randolph had the “presence of mind” to call a friend, to write a will and make arrangements for the caring of his dog.

Brian and Rachelle Beaver were from Mesa, Ariz. Brian’s teenage daughter, Brianna, said in August 2022 her dad left her in the care of his mother, Yvette Owens and Brianna’s mother.

“He went to Fort Sumner to help a friend with his business,” Brianna said.

Brianna said that friend was Randolph.

Jurors were instructed to find Randolph guilty or not guilty of first-degree murder.

If the jury decided on a not-guilty verdict on first-degree murder they were to consider a guilty or not-guilty verdict on second-degree murder on both counts.

Reeb said first-degree murder is premeditated, while second-degree murder is “a general intent to kill.”