Peoria Standard

July 7, 2025, Peoria, IL – Nathaniel N. Archuleta, 19, has pleaded guilty to First Degree Murder in the death of his girlfriend, Mary Halcomb. The incident occurred in 2024 and was initially staged to look like a suicide. In a plea agreement supported by Mary's family, Archuleta received a sentence of 45 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections without the possibility of parole.

The courtroom was filled with Mary's family and friends who expressed the emotional impact her death had on them. They described their grief and the loss of shared experiences with Mary. Her loved ones criticized Archuleta's actions as selfish and unforgivable.

Police responded to an incident on September 6, 2024, where Mary was found dead from a gunshot wound at a residence in South Peoria. Initial appearances suggested suicide; however, further investigation revealed inconsistencies such as evidence indicating her body had been moved after being shot.

A note found at the scene raised suspicions about the nature of her death. During questioning, Archuleta gave conflicting statements but later admitted to another inmate that he shot Mary after discovering she was texting another man.