Melvin Becenti, 34, is accused of beating and strangling his girlfriend to death inside her Farmington, New Mexico home before attempting to establish a false alibi with police, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by Law&Crime.
Background
Kelsie Todacheeny, 33, was found dead at her residence on the 2400 block of East 20th Street around 3:30 a.m. on Jan. 15, 2024, after Farmington Police responded to what was initially reported as a medical call. Officers quickly determined the circumstances surrounding her death were suspicious and launched a homicide investigation.
Becenti, the victim's longtime boyfriend, was the one who called authorities to report Todacheeny's death. According to the arrest affidavit, he told officers he had left the home approximately two hours earlier to purchase dog food from Walmart before returning to discover her body.
However, investigators grew suspicious of his account when they confirmed Walmart was not operating at that hour. When confronted with this information, Becenti allegedly responded, 'I guess I didn't.'
The Investigation
Friends of Todacheeny provided police with video footage depicting prior incidents of domestic abuse between the couple. In one recording, the victim appeared with a black eye while Becenti was heard calling her a "crackhead" and stating he would kill her before declaring, 'You are going to die tonight.' Additional videos from two days before the killing showed a man manipulating Todacheeny's face while she slept on a couch.
An autopsy conducted by the medical examiner determined Todacheeny died from asphyxial injuries and blunt trauma. Homicide was listed as the manner of death. Investigators noted visible bruising beneath her left eye and swelling on her right cheek when they examined her body.
Detectives also obtained surveillance footage from a nearby Speedway convenience store showing Becenti with what appeared to be a dark-colored stain on the left side of his shirt, below the chest area—which forensic experts believed may have been blood. During subsequent interviews, Becenti eventually acknowledged that he and Todacheeny had been arguing on the night she was killed.
Becenti has been charged with second-degree murder and tampering with evidence. He remains in custody at the San Juan County Adult Detention Center pending further proceedings.
Key Takeaways
- Kelsie Todacheeny, 33, died from asphyxial injuries and blunt trauma; homicide was ruled the manner of death
- Melvin Becenti allegedly provided a false alibi claiming he was purchasing dog food at Walmart when his girlfriend was killed
- Video evidence obtained by investigators included explicit threats made by Becenti against Todacheeny two days before her death
- Convenience store surveillance footage showed Becenti with what appeared to be blood on his clothing after the killing
- The couple had an alcohol-fueled history of domestic abuse, according to police records
What's Next
Becenti is scheduled to appear in court on July 31 for preliminary hearings related to the second-degree murder and evidence tampering charges. The case remains under investigation by the Farmington Police Department.