NM - Laura McNaughton, 30, abducted & murdered, Clovis, 9 Dec 2005

[txsvicki]

http://www.lubbockonline.com/stories/010106/reg_010106099.shtml

 

[Belinda]

Laura McNaughton (30) was kidnapped, raped, beaten, and strangled to death

Published: Sep 24, 2008 @ 1:09 AM

Dr. James Smith will spend 57 years in prison, avoid death penalty.
One day after a judge found that James Smith was eligible for the death penalty,the former Clovis dentist entered an Alford plea to charges he was facing in connection with the December 2005 killing of 30-year-old Laura McNaughton, The Associated Press is reporting.

State District Judge Joe Parker allowed Smith to enter the so-called Alford plea -- in which the accused doesn't admit guilt but acknowledges there is sufficient evidence to convict him at trial -- to charges of first-degree murder, kidnapping, attempted rape and tampering with evidence, the AP reported.

Under the plea agreement, the 37-year-old Smith will be sentenced to life in prison plus 27 years, which means he must spend 57 years in prison before being eligible for parole, according to the AP report.

Much more at link:
http://www.mydeathspace.com/article...napped,_raped,_beaten,_and_strangled_to_death

I don't have anything to add to this. New Mexico DOC doesn't give a lot of information in their viewable records.