Taos Pueblo family mourns daughter as boyfriend receives 10-year sentence
By Sasha Lenninger
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TAOS PUEBLO, N.M. (KOAT) — DeAnna Autumn Leaf Suazo, a talented artist known for her vibrant and culturally rich work, was killed by her longtime boyfriend, Santiago Martinez, on Nov. 12, 2021, after expressing her desire to end their relationship, and he was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter.
“When I received that phone call from Shundine, it hurt. I cried, I broke down, and the first thing I thought of was, she’s gone. This beautiful girl is gone,” said Geraldine Suazo, Deanna’s mother.
David Gary Suazo, DeAnna’s father, expressed disappointment in Martinez’s actions, saying, “We were hoping that he would be a man and just truly admit what he did. For a while, he kind of hesitated until it was a plea bargain.”
The family is upset with the sentence, believing it does not reflect the severity of the crime.
“You serve more time getting caught for a pound of marijuana than taking somebody’s life,” Geraldine Suazo said.
Geraldine Suazo also shared her thoughts on the possible motives behind the tragedy, saying, “I believe he was just very much jealous of her because she was moving forward. You look at her paintings, you look at her artwork, her education.”
Despite the loss, DeAnna’s memory lives on through her art, which has been showcased worldwide, including at the Smithsonian, the Heard Museum, and galleries across the country.
“She already got picked up in the gallery in Paris. The gallery in Tokyo was already looking at her,” said David Gary Suazo.
DeAnna’s work continues to inspire, with a large mural on Civic Plaza Drive in Taos serving as a reminder of her impact.
“I park right there at times, and I talk to her, and I tell her, I’m proud of you,” David Gary Suazo said. “You gave your art world to the world to see.”
The Institute of American Indian Arts has established a memorial fund in DeAnna’s honor to support Indigenous women artists, ensuring her legacy endures.
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