Thomas McKnight

Do you know who murdered Thomas and Judy McKnight in 1984?
Thomas “Cotton” McKnight was a man whose roots ran as deep as the history of New Mexico itself. A third-generation rancher born in Roswell on November 14, 1952, he belonged to a family that had worked the land in Lincoln County since before the territory became a state. Known for his community involvement, Thomas, a White male, served as the chairman of the Lincoln County Commission from 1978 to 1982 and was an active member of the Elks Lodge and the New Mexico Woolgrowers Association. In 1977, he married Judy Lee Rickley, a homemaker from Colorado. They made their life together on the expansive Upper McKnight Ranch near Picacho, a well-known couple in the tight-knit community. However, friends would later recall that their marriage was showing signs of strain due to financial and personal issues.

The day after his 32nd birthday, on November 15, 1984, the tranquility of the ranch was shattered. Thomas and his 38-year-old wife Judy were found murdered inside their home. They had been last seen alive two days earlier, on November 13. A hunter, who had permission to be on the property, grew concerned when he stopped by the house and found it quiet with the vehicles still parked outside. Peeking through a kitchen window, he made the gruesome discovery. Both Thomas and Judy had been shot to death in what investigators termed an "execution-style" killing.

Inside the kitchen, the scene was chilling. Thomas had been shot in the chest and head, while Judy was shot in the back. Evidence suggested a horrifying sequence of events: after being initially wounded, each victim was shot again as they lay on the floor. The position of Judy's body led some to believe she may have been kneeling and holding her husband's head when she was killed. There were no signs of forced entry, leading police to surmise that the McKnights had willingly let their killer, or killers, into their home, perhaps indicated by Judy being found in her bathrobe.

The initial investigation was launched by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department with assistance from the New Mexico State Police, but it was quickly mired in conflict and controversy. The State Police withdrew their support in December 1984. The following year, Twelfth Judicial District Attorney James Weldon publicly admonished the sheriff's department for its handling of the investigation, stating that some evidence was "well-tainted" and likely inadmissible in court. Cotton’s own father, Joe McKnight, also voiced his frustration with how the crime scene had been managed. In August 1985, an investigative grand jury was convened but returned no indictments, recommending only that the investigation continue. The New Mexico Attorney General's Office and the State Police officially took over the case in a joint investigation the next month.

Over the years, a cloud of suspicion settled over a number of individuals, creating a complex web that entangled local law enforcement and the victims' own family. Among those who faced scrutiny were Phil Baiers, a state police officer who had married Cotton's ex-wife and was one of the first officers on the scene despite it being outside his jurisdiction. Anthony Fabry, a Chaves County Sheriff's deputy and a childhood friend of Cotton's, also drew suspicion. Charlie Cox, a candidate for sheriff who was rumored to have had an affair with Judy, was also considered a person of interest.

Suspicion even fell upon Cotton's own family, including his father, Joe, and his brother, Donald “Poncho” McKnight. Poncho reportedly told others he thought his father may have been involved, while Poncho himself was eyed due to alleged involvement in drug activity that some believed Cotton may have been poised to expose. An FBI profiler who reviewed the case reportedly felt that Poncho knew more than he was revealing. Despite the numerous persons of interest and persistent rumors of affairs, drug dealings, and police corruption, no arrests were ever made.

Decades have passed, and many of the individuals connected to the case, including early persons of interest like Charlie Cox, are now reportedly deceased. The brutal double homicide of Cotton and Judy McKnight remains one of New Mexico’s most haunting unsolved mysteries, a dark chapter in the history of the Hondo Valley. As of early 2024, the investigation is officially in the hands of the New Mexico State Police Cold Case Homicide Unit. No viable suspects have ever been officially named, and the question of who committed the execution-style slayings on that quiet ranch remains unanswered. Investigators hope that someone with long-held information will finally come forward. Anyone with information is asked to contact the New Mexico State Police Cold Case Homicide Unit at (505) 827-9066.