Body of missing Breckenridge man found

Following the discovery of the body of a man originally from Breckenridge and a multi-agency investigation, murder and tampering charges have been filed against the man’s wife.

The remains of 60-year-old Craig Thetford, who grew up and lived in Breckenridge until his retirement, were found Tuesday, June 17 near the home he shared with his wife, Deana, in Cloudcroft, New Mexico, according to a criminal complaint filed in Otero County, New Mexico.

According to Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Sergeant Juan L. Gutierrez, Craig’s wife, Deana Rene Thetford, was located and arrested Tuesday, July 8. She was booked into the Wichita County Jail on two charges — first degree murder, and tampering with evidence.

Multiple family members made calls to the Otero County Sheriff’s Office in the first few weeks of May, expressing concern for Craig, as they had not made contact with him since January. Deputies from OCSO were unable to make contact with Craig after multiple attempts.

According to the complaint, OCSO Deputy Roger Schoolcraft returned to the couple’s home Thursday, May 15 and was able to make contact with Deana. She stated that she and Craig were “going through a divorce” and that Craig had traveled to Mexico to fish with his new girlfriend. It was later learned that Craig had not crossed the border since 2023.

During the interaction, Deana showed the deputy two large gun safes in the pool room that had $1 million to $1.5 million in cash, but said that she believed Craig had taken the cash and she did not have the combinations for them. It was later learned that a volunteer firefighter who Craig worked with advised the deputy that Craig had stated, “if anything happens to him, Deana knew the combinations for the safes and she would be able to take care of everything.”

Deputy Schoolcraft later made contact with Deana again when she stated Craig had broken his phone and gotten a new phone, but she did not know the number. She then said that Craig traveled to Texas to take care of his mother. Investigators later learned from Craig’s sister that he had not traveled to Texas.

Investigators were also provided with information by one of Deana’s family members about Craig’s disappearance. According to the family member, Deana traveled to Fort Worth around May 13, where she disclosed that she and Craig had gotten into a fight and she shot Craig multiple times. Deana stated that Craig fell down the stairs into the pool room, where she left him for days, before using the tractor to drag him into the carport.

A search warrant was executed Tuesday, June 17 at the Thetford’s property on Heather Way. During the search, Craig’s body was located in the carport, wrapped in black plastic, blankets and rugs, and covered in a white powder substance and moth balls. His body was covered by piles of cardboard and miscellaneous items.

“These materials were observed to be in the same setting on bodycam footage from Deputy Schoolcraft’s first visit to the property on May 13, 2025, and visually remained untouched throughout the time until the search warrant was executed,” the complaint states.

Craig’s clothing had been removed from the residence, the camera security system hardware had been removed, a computer was unable to be located, and the residence, specifically in the area of the stairwell and pool room, appeared to be clean.

Upon opening the safes, police found approximately $84,200 in $100 bills, as well as multiple firearms and ammunition. A magazine containing two unspent .45 caliber bullets was also located in one of the safes and an empty box for a Kimber was located at the residence, but the gun was unaccounted for. Also located in one of the safes was a passport for Craig but not one for Deana.

According to the autopsy, it was confirmed that Craig had suffered multiple gunshot wounds. The doctor declared the cause of death to be gunshot wounds and the manner of death to be homicide, and believed it to be reasonable that Craig had been deceased from a few weeks to a few months.

As of Monday, July 14, Deana is still being held in the Wichita County Jail on no bond.

Craig moved to Cloudcroft after his retirement a few years ago, and according to the Cloudcroft Police Department, he had plans to travel back to Breckenridge but went missing before making the trip. He had been a member of the James Canyon Volunteer Fire Department in Otero County, New Mexico.

For many years, Craig owned and operated Craig’s Roofing in Breckenridge before selling the business prior to his move to New Mexico.