Pueblo woman pleads not guilty in connection with mother-in-law’s brutal killing

PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) -- The wife of the Pueblo man accused of killing and dismembering his mother pleaded not guilty to her own alleged involvement in the murder case.

According to the Pueblo Police Department, 36-year-old Melanie Cuevas was arrested in Monte Vista for accessory to first-degree murder in connection with the death of her mother-in-law, Mary Garcia, back in April.

Garcia was found dismembered and stuffed into a suitcase that was thrown into a car wash dumpster in Pueblo.

Anthony Cuevas, Melanie's husband, was charged with first-degree murder for allegedly killing his mother and then dumping her remains in various places, including the dumpster and near the Arkansas River.

Police originally found Garcia's body in a dumpster on October 17, and Anthony was booked into custody days later thanks to surveillance video that caught the disposal. Melanie was also initially placed under arrest but wasn't charged until April.

"[Mary Garcia] was a mom, grandma, aunt, cousin, wife, and someone's best friend," said Ramoncita Cuevas, Garcia's niece, minutes of Melanie Cuevas' arraignment hearing. "She wasn't a piece of trash, but that's what happened to her."

Ramoncita Cuevas and the rest of her family say they still have no idea why Anthony or Melanie would want to kill Garcia.

A trial date for Melanie Cuevas has been set for February 8, 2021.