5 chilling details about Ursula Duran's brutal killing

Ursula Duran was born in 1985 in Nambe, New Mexico. From parenthood to education to employment, she accomplished plenty at 19. She worked at her father's electrical business and attended the University of New Mexico to improve her life for her son, Isaiah.

However, her life was soon cut short. On October 13, 2004, her dead body was found in the house of her aunt and uncle. The ensuing investigation revealed a tale of betrayal.

Karen Smallwood, a name associated with Duran's tragic demise, had once been a trusted acquaintance of the family. She had offered to house-sit for Duran’s aunt and uncle, but the relationship took a dark turn.

When police found proof, it was clear that Smallwood was involved in the killing of Ursula Duran. The case, which was shown in Oxygen's Snapped season 29, episode 26, reairing on August 14, showed how Smallwood's life and Ursula's life met violently and unexpectedly. Smallwood's criminal background, which included violent behavior in the past, made this case noteworthy.

The investigation ultimately pointed to Karen Smallwood, whose connection to the crime would leave a lasting impact on those who loved Ursula Duran.

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Some important facts related to Ursula Duran's brutal murder

1) Ursula Duran was found shot five times

Duran was shot multiple times (Image via Unsplash)

When Duran's body was found, authorities discovered that she had been shot five times. The last two were fired at point-blank range as she lay on the ground, with the killer standing over her, as per Oxygen.

There were no signs of a fight or resistance. Hence, authorities assumed that Duran had been caught off guard. According to Oxygen, the use of two shell casings at the scene raised confusion.

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2) The hair follicle found at the scene and Duran's relatives' past connection with Karen Smallwood led to her being a suspect

The hair evidence helped connect the crime to Karen Smallwood (Image via Unsplash)

The fact that hair follicles were found in Duran's hand was a key clue that led police to Karen Smallwood, as per Oxygen. At first, investigators had a hard time figuring out who the suspect was, but the hair sample found in Duran's hand gave them a clue.

According to Oxygen, after running several tests, it was found that the hair belonged to Smallwood, who used to know Ursula Duran's family, as she used to house sit for them on occasion.

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3) Smallwood made several ATM withdrawals using Duran's card

Smallwood's ATM withdrawals using Duran's card led to her identification (Image via Unsplash)

After Ursula Duran's death, within a few days, police found some major details regarding her ATM card. They discovered that the card had been used to withdraw cash in Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana, among other places.

The withdrawals happened soon after Ursula Duran was killed, and the $2,000 amount on the card was used up. In an unexpected turn of events, authorities discovered from surveillance video from one of the ATMs that the person using the card wasn't one of the initial suspects, but an older white woman, as per Oxygen.

The woman was identified to be Karen Smallwood, someone who used to house sit for Ursula Duran's family. As per Oxygen, Duran's aunt and uncle confirmed Smallwood's identity, saying they knew her from previous interactions.

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4) Smallwood’s dark past went against her

Smallwood had a dark past (Image via Unsplash)

Karen Smallwood was immediately seen as a suspect by the authorities upon the discovery of her connection with Duran. They also found out that she had a past of acting out and being violent.

Smallwood had been moving around a lot before she killed Ursula Duran. She often stayed with different family members and friends. She even said she had a gun for "protection," the last time she talked to Ursula's aunt and uncle, reported Oxygen.

Authorities were interested in her because she had access to guns and lived in a dangerous place. She was also kicked out of a camping area where she was living for violent behavior. Investigators were also able to figure out Smallwood's possible involvement in the murder by looking at her violent anger and past criminal behavior.

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5) Smallwood was convicted of no-contest first-degree murder

Smallwood was sentenced to 30 years for Ursula Duran's murder (Image via Unsplash)

After a long search, Karen Smallwood was finally caught in Florida in November 2004, as per KOAT 7 Action News. Large amounts of cash and a pistol with bullets that were of the same caliber as the ones used to kill Ursula Duran were found among her belongings.

Smallwood was charged with murder, aggravated burglary, and tampering with evidence. As per Oxygen, the arrest was a turning point in the case. The DNA of Smallwood was found to match the blood on the weapon. The hair sample discovered in Duran's grip also matched with Smallwood's.

All the evidence pointed to Smallwood, who took a plea bargain of no-contest first-degree murder. She was given a life term with 30 years with a possibility of parole after 2034, as per KOAT 7 Action News.

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